There was no sign of any morning-after grogginess when Prince William competed in a charity polo match the day after his 21st birthday party.
Wills was joined by his brother Harry and his father as he donned his riding boots and pads to take part in the event. And the birthday boy, who'd been up partying till six in the morning, scored the first goal of the match within minutes of taking the field.
His cousin Zara also came along to join the 700 spectators who cheered the three princes on. And the trio were the toast of Beaufort Polo Club after leading their side to a 5-3 victory. They were later presented with a trophy for their efforts, which raised £40,000 for charity.
It has been a week of polo triumphs for the royals. On Thursday Charles and Harry also emerged victorious in a match at the Guards' Polo Club in Berkshire. After scoring two goals himself, Charles collected the trophy from the event's guest of honour, his mother the Queen.
Her Majesty looked somewhat overwhelmed, however, as she was presented with two cream teas by a group of Eton schoolboys. As the youngsters offered her two plates of strawberries, cream and scones, the Queen gave a mock look of horror as if to say: "I couldn't possibly eat all that!"
And the polo-loving Princes also scored a publicity coup, by releasing some intimate footage of themselves getting ready for an earlier match. In the video, Wills, Charles and Harry are seen making fun of each other prior to the clash.
"Can you keep up? It's quite a quick game," Prince William jokingly asks his father, adding: "We'll get the stabilisers out and put them on your horse." The characteristically calm Charles responds: "I can still do it at my advanced stage of decrepitude. Don't forget, I'm still a notch above your handicap."
Not one to get big-headed, Prince William concedes: "I'm just making a nuisance of myself," to which his dad quips: "That's not too difficult." But it was Wills who had the last laugh, when he quick-wittedly answered: "Well, it's hereditary."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
