The Duke of Sussex participated in the Sentebale Polo Cup in Singapore, which serves as a fundraiser for Sentebale, a charity he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho back in 2006. Over the years, this annual Polo Cup has managed to raise more than £11 million to support Sentebale's initiatives.
Prior to the match, Prince Harry expressed his gratitude, saying, "We're delighted to return to the renowned Singapore Polo Club in August and once again enormously grateful for the polo community and our sponsors, in particular, ISPS Honda, for their ongoing commitment to Lesotho and Botswana's youth."
However, there have been conflicting reports regarding Prince Harry's personal contributions to Sentebale. In April, the Sussexes' team claimed that Prince Harry had injected $1.5 million of his own funds into Sentebale. While Sentebale has seen substantial growth, with donations increasing by over 50% in the past year, there are no concrete records confirming the extent of Prince Harry's personal donation.
Recent reports have raised questions about the actual amount of money raised for Sentebale through the Polo Cup event. Some have speculated that a significant portion of the funds may be absorbed by expenses such as first-class flights, accommodations, hotels, security, and other costs, especially when considering Prince Harry's participation. This has led to doubts about the legitimacy of high-profile charity events like this one.
Since 2010, Sentebale's Polo Cup has raised £11 million, averaging less than a million pounds annually. It remains unclear whether this figure accounts for expenses or is the net amount raised after deducting such costs. Some have voiced concerns that these events might be more of an extravagant annual global polo tournament for the wealthy rather than a focused fundraising effort for the charity.
Notably, the financial reports for Sentebale have come under scrutiny, with the sudden resignation of the chairman, Johnny Hornby, who had held the position for the past 11 years. The circumstances surrounding his departure remain undisclosed. Additionally, there were expectations of a £1.5 million donation from Prince Harry's book proceeds, though this was presented as a pledge rather than an actual contribution.
Critics argue that more tangible efforts, such as personally delivering housing or substantial financial aid, would have a more significant impact on charitable causes. While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been associated with charitable endeavors like Invictus, their charitable efforts have been characterized as sporadic, and some believe that a sustained and dedicated approach is essential for making a substantial difference in the charitable sector.
