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Polo And Tinseltown For The Royals

07-09-2011 by Linda S. Carbonell

Hollywood has a long history with the English, as far back as Charlie Chaplin and silent film. America has often been accused of taking Britain’s best and finest, from Alfred Hitchcock to Elizabeth Taylor to Gerard Butler, so it is not surprising that everywhere the royal couple go, they will be among celebrities. Friday night’s reception at the home of the U.K.’s consul-general, Dame Barbara Hay. Among the guests were soccer star David Beckham and writer-actor Stephen Fry (Gordon-Gordon on Bones). Fry later tweated “Entirely charming evening at the British Consulate here in LA. The Cambridges dazzled everyone.”

With tickets going for between $400 (box lunch in the stands) and $4,000 (really nice lunch) the polo match at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club starring Prince William was expected to bring in more than a million dollars for charitable foundation started by Princes William and Harry, and now co-sponsored by Princess Catherine. Among other works, the foundation benefits groups that work with children in developing countries in Africa, which both William and Harry have visited on several occasions. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at the Club by helicopter from Los Angeles, an hour south.

The match is the reason they are in Los Angeles. It was arranged a year ago. Everything else this past ten days has been built around this charity polo game, sponsored by The American Friends of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.

The match was expected to be exciting because American polo tends to be aggressive than British polo. Ebe Sievewright, a coach at the club (and British actor) told CNN, “There’s huge differences. Polo in England is very Argentine influenced, and in America there is a great history of cowboys and riding from their own history out in the Wild West.” Not withstanding the differences, Prince William’s team won the match. Santa Barbara resident Victoria Hines, dressed to the nine to attend the match, commented “They’re great role models for young people. They’re elegant and great ambassadors for their country.”

Tonight, they are attending an event for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) highlighting young British actors and actresses, helping the up-and-coming mingle with the likes of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, and Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. As of this posting, there were still no pictures available of the “mystery” dress that was carefully carried around the Los Angeles airport in a very long garment bag.

　

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• William and Kate attend charity polo match (cbsnews.com)
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• William vs. Harry: Which Polo-Playin’ Prince Is Hotter? (eonline.com)
• Duchess Kate Wows In Green Silk Dress; Royal Couple Heads Up The Coast For Santa Barbara Polo Match (omg.yahoo.com)
• Rosario Dawson & Molly Sims: Foundation Polo Challenge! (justjared.buzznet.com)