The Prince of Wales is warming to the idea of allowing Prince Harry to pursue his dream of becoming a professional polo player and touring the world with a pro team during his gap year in 2003, according to reports.
The Prince of Wales had initially been opposed to the plan for fears Harry would embrace the glamorous lifestyle too enthusiastically, but now, after fierce lobbying by friends and family, he is having second thoughts.
“Harry is really keen on the sport and not just the glamour,” a source told Britain’s Sunday Telegraph. “Charles is beginning to see that a year where Harry is responsible for his own success or failure, as well as the other team members, could be the making of him.”
Both William and Harry currently play for the prestigious Beaufort Polo Club, and Harry also plays for the Eton and Highgrove teams and continues to wear last year’s much-washed Highgrove shirt, which is his lucky mascot.
The boys’ father had toyed with the idea of making both the young princes pay for their polo expenses out of their trust funds, in a bid to make them more responsible. But since the two boys already own their own horses – the sport's major expense – Charles decided against it.
“It is false that polo is all high inks and cocktails,” Major Mark Cann, who often plays with Harry, told the Sunday Telegraph. “Even with the buying of the horses you could still pay £20,000 a year, tops. I doubt very much if Harry wants to play just because of the social life. It is the game he loves and he is a natural talent, rides well and has a great eye for the ball.
“There is no reason why, with hard work, he could not become a professional. He could expect to have a two-goal handicap by his gap year.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
