(Credits: Mark Jones)

In the new documentary series Polo, Prince Harry has opened up about the peculiarities of playing the sport competitively with his father, King Charles.

Harry has played polo, the traditional field sport in which competitors try to score goals with a ball and hard mallet, all while on horseback, for decades. At that time, he played both alongside and against his father. In the fifth episode of the series, he discusses the strange sensation with Argentine Adolfo Cambiaso, a professional who has competed against his 18-year-old son Poroto.

The Duke of Sussex begins by recognising how Cambiaso has forged a strong bond with his son through competition, saying, “You’ve created something special.” The professional athlete says, “We play together a lot, you know. You can play with your kid, something that you love,” to which Harry grins, “Yeah, but what’s it like playing against your kid?” With a smile, Cambiaso admits, “It’s difficult. And worse when you lose,” which makes Harry burst out laughing before he suggests, “You’re proud, but also angry.”

It’s a quick but fascinating insight into the relationship between Harry and Charles in better times. Harry certainly seems to indicate that he felt his dad was proud of him when he managed to emerge victorious, but his competitive spirit also left him fuming that he lost to his own son.

Is ‘Polo’ part of Harry and Meghan’s Netflix deal?

Polo is the fourth offering from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s five-year, £80 million deal inked with Netflix in 2020. Its official synopsis reveals that the docuseries “follows elite global players and offers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the fast-paced world of the sport. Known primarily for its aesthetic and social scene, the series will pull the curtain back on the grit and passion of the sport, capturing players and all it takes to compete at the highest level.”

The series is based around the US Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida. Harry and Meghan appear when Harry participates in a charity match at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge, which was staged in aid of Sentebale, Harry’s organization that aids vulnerable young people in Botswana and Lesotho.

At one point, footage is shown of the royal in action while the commentator excitedly exclaims, “Prince Harry on the move, working it. Oh, what a run. Ladies and gentlemen, what a run and what a goal by the prince. Give it up, if you will, for the Duke of Sussex.”

Harry is presented as a fierce competitor who wants to win at all costs, even in a charity match. When his team wins 3-1, his lady love presents him with a trophy, complete with a kiss for the cameras.