Smiling Prince Harry poses with old pal Nacho Figueras at Singapore Polo Club ahead of match – as Duke continues tour of Asia
Prince Harry was today pictured posing with his polo player friend Nacho Figueras ahead of a match in Singapore as he continues his tour of Asia.
The 38-year-old prince touched down in Japan on Tuesday, where he received a warm welcome and later told an audience he would ‘happily live here if you’d have me’.
The Duke, who praised the ‘warmth, compassion and generosity’ of the Japanese people, made the comments during the summit organised by the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) on Wednesday.
Harry and Nacho spoke at the summit about their charity Sentebale, which helps children and young people affected by HIV and AIDS in southern Africa.
They then went shopping for their families in Tokyo ahead of their journey to Singapore in time for the polo match later today.
Britain’s Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, arrives with Argentinian polo player Nacho Figueras for the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup at the Singapore Polo Club
Since 2010, the cup has raised over £11 million to support Sentebale’s work with children and young people affected by poverty, inequality and HIV/AIDS in southern Africa
The old friends looked to be having a great time as they boarded a flight at Tokyo Narita, after they playfully posed in women’s sunglasses. Nacho posted on Instagram that they were ‘shopping for our wives’ – with some fans describing them as ‘real brothers’.
Prince Harry and Mr Figueras are due to take part in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup, which takes place annually and raises significant amounts for charity.
Since 2010, the cup has raised over £11 million to support Sentebale’s work with children and young people affected by poverty, inequality and HIV/AIDS in southern Africa.
Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, who is a Co-Founding Patron of Sentebale, said when his participation was announced: ‘The annual Polo Cup is essential to Sentebale’s vital work ensuring children and young people are healthy, resilient, and able to thrive.
‘The funds raised this year will support our Clubs and Camps programme, which provides intensive psychosocial support to young people living with HIV.
‘In a time where being HIV positive is no longer a death sentence, we are empowering young people to know their status, stay healthy, and eliminate the stigma so that they can break the cycle.
‘We are delighted to return to the renowned Singapore Polo Club in August, and are once again enormously grateful for the polo community and our sponsors, in particular ISPS Handa, for their ongoing commitment to Lesotho and Botswana’s youth.’
The Duke will play on the Royal Salute Sentebale Team, against the Singapore Polo Club Team captained by the charity’s ambassador and long-time friend, Nacho Figueras.
A smiling Prince Harry leaves Tokyo for Singapore today as his Asian tour continues
Harry’s next job is a polo match in Singapore this Saturday to raise funds for young Aids-sufferers.
Prince Harry and Nacho Figueras took time to do some shopping for their families in Tokyo today, as they were pictured posing in aviator sunglasses
Harry is not accompanied by his wife Meghan Markle or his children Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two, on the tour.
Meghan this week enjoyed a night out watching the final night of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Los Angeles.
The Duchess reportedly leapt out of her chair to sing along to ‘You Belong with Me’ – as she was accompanied by her British friend Lucy Fraser, who featured prominently in the Sussexes’ tell-all Netflix series.
Meanwhile her husband is in the safe hands of his long-time friend Mr Figueras, whose friendship with the royal reportedly dates back to 2007.
They have played polo alongside one another in various matches over the years, and Nacho, 46, has become one of Harry and Meghan Markle’s most vocal supporters, praising them in magazine interviews and during TV appearances.
The father-of-four, who has been dubbed the ‘David Beckham of Polo’ – was also among a handful of the Duke and Duchess’s closest confidantes who appeared in the couple’s Netflix documentary.
In the series he described Meghan as ‘incredible’ and praised her for ‘giving up everything for the man she loves’.
He is not averse to discussing his royal friends on TV and social media, having previously told Ellen DeGeneres he would ‘give his life’ for them.
Harry and Nacho have been having fun in Japan and took part in a panel discussion staged by the International Sports Promotion Society
In a post on Instagram Nacho Figueras wrote: ‘Shopping for our wives. A big thank you to Tokyo for your generous hospitality and kindness towards us. And of course, for your continued support of Sentebale!’
The Duchess of Sussex is believed to have been in the crowd for Taylor Swift’s concert in Los Angeles
This week he shared a snap of him and Prince Harry in Japan wearing sunglasses on his Instagram account, telling the world they were shopping for their wives.
When he arrived at the summit in Tokyo Harry was greeted with rapturous applause after saying: ‘Well, firstly, hello everybody.’
The beaming 38-year-old son of King Charles III told the crowd: ‘I’ve been involved in many charities for most of my life and I get a huge amount of fulfilment giving back to as many people as possible. My life is charity, always has been, always will be.’
He continued: ‘I noticed it my first visit four years ago when I came for the Rugby World Cup. And I would happily live here if you’d have me. Thank you for your hospitality. I have really, really enjoyed being here in Japan again and I’m looking forward to my next visit.’
He also said that ‘the power of sport… brings people together and connects people, and, as you heard from my friend Steve (Royal Australian Navy Veteran and Invictus Games gold winner Steve James), really does have the ability to heal people as well.’
It comes after friends of the Sussexes blasted claims of marriage ‘tensions’ amid speculation about their Hollywood future and rumoured strains behind the scenes.
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