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Polo-Playing Prince Harry Takes Greenwich By Storm

GREENWICH, Conn. -- Prince Harry saved the best for last by scoring the winning goal Wednesday in his charity polo match in Greenwich and celebrating a successful whirlwind weeklong visit to the United States.  

Prince Harry and his teammates hold up the trophy after winning the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup at the Greenwich Polo Club.

Prince Harry and his teammates hold up the trophy after winning the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup at the Greenwich Polo Club.

Photo Credit: Synergy
Prince Harry is the star of the The Sentebale Land Rover team on Wednesday at the Greenwich Polo Club.

Prince Harry is the star of the The Sentebale Land Rover team on Wednesday at the Greenwich Polo Club.

Photo Credit: Synergy
Prince Harry went on to score the winning goal in Wednesday's game at the Greenwich Polo Club.

Prince Harry went on to score the winning goal in Wednesday's game at the Greenwich Polo Club.

Photo Credit: Synergy
Christian Porta, chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, and model Karolina Kurkova

Christian Porta, chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, and model Karolina Kurkova

Photo Credit: Synergy

Harry played on the winning side of the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup at the Greenwich Polo Club and raised more than $1 million for his charity, Sentebale. 

“It is wonderful to be here at Greenwich Polo Club in Connecticut for the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup 2013," Prince Harry said. "The success of our three previous polo events has helped Sentebale make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children in Lesotho, the Mountain Kingdom of southern Africa.”

He founded the charity with Prince Seeiso from the Lesotho Royal family in response to the plight of the neediest and most vulnerable of Lesotho's people, many of whom are victims of extreme poverty and Lesotho’s HIV/AIDs epidemic. Sentebale -- which means "forget me not" in the African language of Sesotho -- was started in 2006 in memory of the two men's mothers.

In February, Prince Harry visited Lesotho to see the difference Sentebale’s programs were making to the children. The charity plans to build the Mamohato Centre for children and young people infected with or affected by HIV.

The Sentebale Land Rover team topped the St. Regis team, 4-3, to take home the trophy, which was presented by Christian Porta, chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, and model Karolina Kurkova.

Guests at the game Wednesday included His Grace Torquhil Ian Campbell, the 13th Duke of Argyll, Kurkova and her husband Archie Dury, Olivia Palermo and boyfriend Johannes Hueble, fashion designers Valentino and Jason Wu and TV anchor Gayle King, organizers said.

Harry and Argentine polo great Nacho Figueras battled it out on the polo field. Royal Salute Polo Ambassador and captain of the Sentebale Land Rover team Malcolm Borwick led the team to victory.

“I feel very privileged to be playing polo in support of Sentebale; I admire what the charity is doing for the children of Lesotho. It is a great honor to play alongside my friends here in the USA," Borwick said. "The Royal Salute World Polo Series has an ever increasing presence globally and events like this showcase what the brand is doing to raise the international profile of the sport, alongside great causes like Sentebale.”   

Christian Porta, Chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers said: "Royal Salute is honored to be partnering with Sentebale for the third year, and to see The Sentebale Land Rover team take the title."

Prince Harry made no public appearances in Greenwich on Wednesday. The polo match was limited to about 400 invited guests and media. He was brought to the Polo Club in a motorcade surrounded by heavy security.

The polo match wrapped up Harry's weeklong tour of the states, which started last Thursday with a visit to Washington, D.C., and included stops at the Wounded Warriors Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., and visits to parts of New Jersey devastated by Superstorm Sandy as well as events to promote British tourism in New York City. 

Established in 1981, the Greenwich Polo Club is located on North Street in backcountry Greenwich. Founder Peter Brant, an avid art collector and horseman, owns White Birch Paper Company and Brant Publications Inc., and his fortune is estimated at $2.7 billion.

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