Meghan Markle and Prince Harry might have starred in their own, hugely successful Netflix series, but now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are turning their hand to producing for the streaming giant. Their newest project? Polo, a fast-paced documentary drama that delves into the glamorous and high-octane world of the competitive sport.
The five-part series has been produced by the Sussexes through Archewell Productions, and is set for release December 10. Netflix has now released the trailer, the description of which promises “an unprecedented glimpse into the dedication and skill required to compete at the sport’s highest level,” while introducing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as executive producers for the first time.
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It’s unsurprising that the Prince has chosen a documentary about polo to be the first he oversees from behind the camera. Harry has been a passionate player for decades, often competing side by side with his brother, Prince William. Before he stepped back from the royal family (causing a very public rift between the two brothers) they could often be seen crossing mallets at Cirencester, Ascot, or Cowdray. The Sentebale Polo Cup, meanwhile—a charity event featuring global influencers and polo enthusiasts—has raised £792 million for the foundation’s initiatives to date.
“The documentary series follows elite global players on and off the field as they compete in the high-stakes U.S. Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida,” reads the description. “From a young player pushed to his limits by his demanding father, to a former golfer who’s made significant sacrifices for the love of the sport, to the father-son duo widely regarded as the greatest players of all time—they all face intense personal and professional challenges as they vie for the coveted title.”
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Taking on a key role in the show is Nacho Figueras, an Argentine polo player who counts Prince Harry as a close friend. The two formed a bond in 2007, and have since supported one another on and off the pitch. Nacho and his wife, Delfina, were guests at Harry and Meghan’s 2018 wedding, and Meghan has since brought ‘Delfi’ into her inner circle—even gifting her a limited-edition jar of jam from her soon-to-launch company, American Riviera Orchard. Since moving to California, Harry has joined the Los Padres team, led by Nacho. The pair have joined forces for many a game, at events like the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Miami and at the Aspen Polo Club back in 2022.
“Delfi and I have known Harry for a very long time. I know firsthand how much he wanted to have a family,” father-of-four Nacho previously told People. “He found an amazing teammate, or partner, in Meghan. They love each other very much; their children are lovely.” This isn’t the first time Nacho has appeared in one of Harry and Meghan’s Netflix projects, either—he also starred in the wildly successful Harry & Meghan, which charted the Sussexes’ dramatic exit from the royal family. “He looked at us and said ‘Guys, I met a girl, we’ve just met but I think this might be the one,’” Nacho said on the show. “You could tell right away that those eyes were those of someone who’d fallen in love.”
This time around, however, Nacho will be seen in a more competitive context. “Polo is not just a sport, polo is a lifestyle. We eat, we breathe, we sleep polo,” he says in the trailer, in which he is joined by several other high-profile players, including Louis Devaleix, Timmy Dutta, and Keko Magrini. The trailer follows Adolfo Cambiaso of Team Valiente, a star player set to compete against his son, 17-year-old son Poroto Cambiaso of Team La Dolfina. “I want to win against my dad so I can say I beat the greatest in the sport,” says Poroto, to which Adolfo replies: “I’m very proud of my son. But I try to beat him.”
The families of the players also feature in the documentary, to illustrate just how much of a toll competing at a high level can take. “For sure it’s glamorous. It’s a sexy sport too. Dirty, sweaty boys, riding,” the mother of Timmy Dutta says at one point in the trailer. There’s clearly some degree of tension between Timmy and his father, who not only owns his team—Dutta Corp—but coaches it too. Timmy says at one point that “it’s healthy to have somewhat of a personal life outside of being an athlete,” while his father point-blank disagrees as he criticizes his play.
Royal fans may be disappointed to learn that, judging by the trailer, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle don’t make an appearance in the show—but their influence can bee keenly felt. “We’re proud to showcase the true depth and spirit of the sport—and the intensity of its high-stakes moments,” Harry said in a statement on Netflix’s Tudum blog site. Meghan’s hand, meanwhile, can be seen in the dramatic handling of the material. The Duchess (who, of course, has experience of starring in a hit show herself) is said to be a huge fan of TV dramas, and once joked that her chat with Andy Cohen on her Archetypes podcast was her “audition for Real Housewives in Montecito.”
A spokesperson for Netflix has previously said that the company “deeply values” its relationship with the Sussexes, and that their “exciting journey [won’t be] ending anytime soon.” Next in the pipeline is Meghan’s long-awaited lifestyle series which will, as per Us Weekly, be “a take on her and the joy of living,” in line with the branding of American Riviera Orchard. From real-life documentaries to sport and cooking, it seems the Sussexes are prepared to cover it all. Watch this space…
This article first appeared on Tatler.
The post Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Latest Documentary Will Be Released on Netflix Soon appeared first on Glamour.
