Fans of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can now watch the couple’s documentary series, titled POLO, on Netflix – but shouldn’t expect to see much of the Sussexes in it
Prince Harry barely makes an appearance in his new documentary, leading some fans to question the direction of his £80million deal with Netflix.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are executive producers of a new docuseries titled POLO, which debuted on Netflix today (December 10). The five-episode show follows polo players “on and off the field” as they compete in the high-stakes US Open Polo Championship in Florida.
It is well known that Harry, 40, has played polo for decades and is a huge fan of the equestrian sport. But unlike his 2022 Netflix series with his wife Meghan Markle, titled Harry & Meghan, the Duke only appears a handful of times on screen with the Duchess appearing even less.
Meghan has an even smaller cameo in the series (
Image:
PA)
Several of Harry’s former polo-playing pals previously gave their verdict based on the trailer and branded it ‘tacky’, saying it left them all in hysterics. One told the Daily Beast: “It’s hilarious, but not in a good way. It’s so tacky and cringey, it is literally all the worst things about polo. I watched it in appalled hysterics.”
Meanwhile, another claimed that it missed an opportunity with its portrayal of the sport. They said: “The irony is that polo is actually a surprisingly inclusive sport these days. You do see plenty of rich kids but there are also plenty of kids from less rarefied backgrounds who just happen to be fantastic riders who are sponsored by the teams.”
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Harry stars in the show’s opening credits and then disappears until episode four when he has a conversation with other players. In episode five, he features chatting with professional polo player Adolfo Cambiaso and later with his father, Alfonso, as he introduces Meghan to the Argentinian star.
The Duchess is recorded having a conversation in Spanish with a polo legend (
Image:
Netflix)
Harry reveals his wife is “also fluent in Spanish”, and she continues the conversation, telling the polo legend in Spanish: “I lived there about 20 years ago. In Palermo Viejo (Buenos Aires).” Harry is asked if he speaks Spanish, to which Meghan jokes: “Yes”, and Harry adds: “Haha! He knows I don’t!”
The Duke is also seen scoring a goal, with Meghan affectionately applauding him and later presenting him with a trophy on the stand. The couple then share a sweet kiss — though photographers documented this moment at the live event in April, so it’s not new to fans of the former royals.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Harry had inked a deal with Netflix to produce a series about the enigmatic sport of polo. It promised to “provide viewers unprecedented access to the world of professional polo”. Harry’s friend and fellow polo player, Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Figueras, worked closely with him to produce the show.
Speaking to People about the programme, he said: “Prince Harry and I have talked about polo for years. The production company is incredible, and Netflix has a huge platform to reach the biggest hearts in the world. I am happy to be involved and think this is a great opportunity for the sport.”
Netflix officially announced the documentary series on X in September with a statement that read: “POLO is a new documentary series that follows elite global players and offers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the fast-paced world of the sport. From Archewell Productions and Boardwalk Pictures.”
Archewell Productions is the Duke and the Duchess of Sussex’s company. The show is part of the couple’s multi-year deal with Netflix, which Harry and Meghan signed in 2020. Meghan will also have her own non-fiction series, which will feature her celebrating “the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining and friendship”.
The streaming platform said last month that viewers will get an “unprecedented glimpse into the dedication and skill required to compete at the sport’s highest level”. They explained the show will follow a young player who is pushed to his limits by his demanding father, and a father-son duo widely regarded as the greatest players.
