Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have come under fire for their new Netflix docu-series about the world of polo, a project produced as part of their £80 million deal with the streaming giant.
The show, titled *Polo*, has received harsh criticism from royal experts and members of the polo community, with some accusing the Duke of Sussex of using it as an opportunity to boost his and Meghan's egos.
As executive producers of the documentary, Harry and Meghan aimed to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the sport that Harry plays. However, the series has not been well received, with many suggesting it falls short of expectations.
Royal correspondent Rupert Bell spoke with people within the polo world, revealing that the show has been mocked by some at the elite level of the sport. According to Bell, *Polo* feels more like a reality TV show than a serious exploration of the sport.
Speaking on Talk TV, Bell explained, "It's almost being laughed at by members of the polo community at the elite level because it just feels like a bit of a polo reality show around some people with a bit of an ego."
He continued, "It's not really polo at the very highest standard, according to some people. You've got a guy who seems to swear the whole way through it, and it's obviously trying to create family tensions, so it's no more than a sort of polo-based reality TV show."
Bell added that the documentary had not been well received by the polo community, calling it a distraction. He also noted that the players featured in the series are not at the top tier of the sport, despite a few of them being notable players. "Of course, there are a couple, and we know it's a tough sport, but in terms of the content of it, it's not particularly good," he said.
The harsh critiques didn't stop with Bell. *Polo* has also failed to capture the attention of its audience, with many calling it "tedious" and "a disaster." The series struggled to crack the top 10 most-watched shows across Netflix's regional markets after its release on December 10.
Even Prince Harry's own friend and polo player, Tommy Severn, had a less-than-favorable view of the docu-series. Severn, who played alongside Harry and Prince William in their youth and is the captain of Polo England, described the series as "very weird," according to MailOnline.
Severn also weighed in on Harry’s relationship with the UK, stating that the Duke had "cut ties" with his home country. He went on to add, "If he came back now, he'd look like an idiot."
