Meghan Markle had a My Fair Lady moment as she joined Prince Harry at a polo tournament yesterday.
The Duchess of Sussex, 40, stepped out in a black wide brim hat, black and white polka dot blouse and £670 high-rise pleated shorts as she cheered on her husband at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club.
Harry, 37, recently joined polo team Los Padres, having played the sport for most of his life alongside his brother William, 39. The club is run by his old friend Nacho Figueres, 45, an Argentine sports star dubbed the ‘David Beckham of polo’.
The team took home the Lisle Nixon Memorial trophy at yesterday’s event, which was open to the public and attracted stars including Rebel Wilson and Meghan’s actress BFF Abigail Spencer.
Meghan was on hand to present the prize and pecked each team member on the cheek – before planting a kiss on her husband’s mouth.
Realising some of her lipstick had rubbed off, she took her finger and gave Harry’s lips a wipe in an intimate moment watched by the crowd of spectators.
The affectionate display was a world away from the tense and distant peck Charles and Diana shared following his polo victory in 1985, just four years after their wedding.
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Retro glamour! Meghan had a My Fair Lady moment as she presented Prince Harry with a cup at a polo tournament yesterday
The Duchess of Sussex gave her husband a kiss on the cheek after they won the Lisle Nixon Memorial Cup at the event
Meghan had to wipe her lipstick from her husband’s mouth after going in for a kiss on stage in front of spectators
Still a spot more! The Duchess of Sussex, who was wearing red lipstick, had to give Prince Harry’s face a wipe after the kiss
Realising some of her lipstick had rubbed off, she quickly took her finger and gave Harry’s lips a wipe in an intimate moment watched by a crowd of spectators
The affectionate display was a world away from the tense and distant peck Charles and Diana shared following his polo victory in 1985, just four years after their wedding
The prince recently joined polo team Los Padres, having played the sport for most of his life after learning in the UK with his brother William. The club is run by his friend Nacho, who said he was ‘excited’ for the duke to join the ranks
The Duchess of Sussex placed a hand on her husband’s chest as she presented him with his prize following his team’s win
The Duchess of Sussex stepped out in a polka dot blouse, black wide brim hat and wide-leg shorts for the star-studded event in Santa Barbara yesterday.
The Duchess of Sussex opted for a retro look, styling her hair in large bouncy curls, as she joined Prince Harry at the polo
The Duke of Sussex was in his element playing alongside Figueres, who has spoken out in support of Harry and Meghan and is part of the royal’s inner circle
Harry smiled as he played polo at the Santa Barbara Polo Club in California on Sunday, as Meghan cheered him on
It comes as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex prepare to jet off to London for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend next week.
They will be joined by their children Archie, three, who was born in the UK, and Lilibet, 11 months, who has never met the British side of her family.
Harry and Meghan have taken their children to other polo events this season but left them at home yesterday.
Meghan opted for a glamorous, retro look for yesterday’s outing, wearing her brunette locks in big, bouncy curls underneath her wide brim hat.
Dressing for the California sun, she opted for a breezy black and white polka dot blouse with a pussy bow which she wore loosely tied at her chest.
The duchess paired the printed piece with £670 wide-leg shorts from go-to brand Khaite, which she finished with a £410 black patent belt by the designer.
Despite needing to walk across grass, Meghan decided to wear her favourite £500 Aquazzura pumps.
She finished the monochrome ensemble with a slick of red lipstick, a pair of diamond earrings, delicate rings and a gold necklace.
Harry and Meghan had sent out invitations to a number of high profile names inviting them to yesterday’s event in aid of local charities. The Duke of Sussex’s polo team is also releasing their own range of clothing in collaboration with trendy LA brand James Perse to benefit organisations including Heal The Ocean.
A kiss from the Duchess! Meghan gave each of Harry’s teammates a peck on the cheek as she presented them with the cup
The Duchess of Sussex held the brim of her hat as she climbed on stage to present the trophy to her husband’s team
Old friends: The Duchess of Sussex congratulated captain Nacho Figueras on the victory at the Santa Barbara club yesterday
And a kiss for Harry! The Duke of Sussex waited patiently at the end of the line before his wife planted a kiss on his lips
A kiss for the crowd! The Duke and Duchess shared a kiss on stage after Los Padres won the memorial cup yesterday
Sealed with a kiss! Prince Harry leaned in to give his wife a kiss on the lips following his victory at the Santa Barbara club
Intimate moment: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex put on a show for the crowd as they kissed on stage following his win
Giggling Duchess! Meghan smiled coyly as Harry leaned in to whisper something in her ear in the public display of affection
Touchy-feely: The Duchess of Sussex held her husband’s arm after presenting him and his team with the memorial trophy
Let me get that for you: Meghan had left behind a trace of her lipstick so reached in to wipe it from Harry’s mouth
All okay? Meghan placed a reassuring hand on her husband’s chest during a quiet moment on stage in front of onlookers
Sombre: The Duke of Sussex appeared lost in thought in one moment as he joined his wife on stage at the California event
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex looked happy on stage as they posed for photos following the cup presentation today
Hand-in-hand: The couple put on a united front as they left the stage following the prize presentation yesterday afternoon
The Duke of Sussex, who wore Le Specs sunglasses, was in his element playing alongside Figueres, who has spoken out in support of Harry and Meghan and is part of the royal’s inner circle.
The polo player was a guest at the Sussexes’ May 2018 wedding and also serves as an ambassador for Sentebale, an organization founded by the Duke, which is dedicated to helping children and young people who or whose family’s suffer with HIV and AIDs in Lesotho, South Africa.
Last month, after the pair played in a tournament together at the Santa Barbara club, Nacho paid tribute to their long-lasting friendship on Instagram, writing: ‘Thrilled to be riding alongside my friend, Prince Harry, and the rest of the Los Padres team at the Santa Barbara Polo Club’s Harry East Memorial Tournament.
‘We’ve ridden together many times over the years and now that we’re both parents, it’s extra special to be able to spend this time together.
‘The name Los Padres was inspired by the proximity of the field to the Los Padres National Forest and also by our connection as fathers.’
Radiant: The Duchess of Sussex dressed for the Californian heat in a breezy polka dot blouse and pleated high-waisted shorts
Hollywood glamour: The Duchess channelled a 1950s film starlet in her wide brim hat and wide-leg trousers at the event
The Duchess of Sussex beamed as she held victorious Harry’s hand following his win at the polo match on Sunday
Ready for the spotlight! The Duchess of Sussex looked delighted to be presenting her husband with the trophy
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex looked taken with one excited toddler who joined her father at the star-studded event
Putting her best foot forward: Meghan stepped out in her favourite £500 Aquzzura pumps for the polo outing yesterday
Ready to mingle! Meghan was all smiles as she spoke to Harry’s opponents, Klentner Ranch, following their win yesterday
Prince Harry and Nacho Figueras waited on their horses as they played polo at the Santa Barbara club on Sunday
Ready to play! The Duchess of Sussex’s team dominated and they eventually beat opponents Klentner Ranch 14-10
Earlier this month, Meghan’s journalist pal Omid Scobie revealed that the Duke of Sussex is planning to play the entire 12-game season with his Santa Barbara-based team.
The Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club has attracted beginners and advanced players since being established in 1911.
In the first week of May, the Finding Freedom author said that Harry was going to participate in the Folded Hills Pope Challenge between May 9 and 15, the Lisle Nixon Cup from May 20 to 29, as well as the Cheval Athletics USPA Intra-Circuit, which runs June 3 to 19.
However Harry will have to miss some fixtures during the final tournament because of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which kick off with Trooping the Colour on Thursday 2 June.
It is unclear which official events he and Meghan will attend but they will not join the Queen and senior royals including Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the fly-past.
A sensational statement issued on behalf of Her Majesty on May 6 said that only royals who are currently carrying out official public duties will appear on the balcony at the event.
The Duchess of Sussex braved the grass in stiletto heels as she made her way to the stage to present Harry with the trophy
The event, which was open to the public, was completely sold out. Crowds cheered as Meghan stood on stage to present
Meghan opted for a monochrome look inspired by My Fair Lady’s Eliza Doolitle as she joined Prince Harry at the polo club
The Duke of Sussex turned to watch his wife climb the steps to the stage ahead of presenting the Lisle Nixon Memorial Trophy
The Duchess of Sussex smiled as the polo team lifted the heavy trophy over her head during the presentation ceremony
The Duchess of Sussex beamed as she stepped up on stage alongside Prince Harry and members of his Los Padres team
Prince Harry was joined by his wife Meghan as his team were presented with the trophy at the Santa Barbara Polo & Raquet Club
The Duchess appeared in excellent spirits and giggled as she presented Harry and his team with the trophy after their win
The Duchess of Sussex flashed her engagement ring as she placed a hand on Prince Harry’s chest at the polo yesterday
This means that Harry and Meghan – as well as Prince Andrew – will not be included.
Harry’s latest appearance at the polo comes just days after his and Meghan’s ‘at-home docuseries’ was branded a royal Keeping Up with the Kardashians for Netflix, with sources describing the news of the show as evidence that Netflix has finally secured its ‘pound of flesh’ in return for their $100million Megxit streaming deal.
The Sussexes are said to have welcomed cameras into their $14million Montecito mansion for a reality-type series that could be in the mold of The Osbournes – although it is not yet known if the couple’s two children, three-year-old Archie and 11-month-old Lilibet, will also feature.
‘I think it’s fair to say that Netflix is getting its pound of flesh,’ a Hollywood insider in the know about the project claimed to Page Six.
The at home reality show was pioneered by The Osbournes, which made Ozzy and Sharon the king and queen of reality TV in the noughties. The mantle was then taken on by the Kardashians, who are now in their 20th season and are worth a collective $1.4billion.
The format would likely suit Harry and Meghan, who have demanded control over their media messaging since emigrating in 2020. But they also demanded privacy, so a reality show has raised eyebrows amongst royal experts who have suggested it is a paradox.
The Duchess of Sussex squeezed in between Harry and his teammates to present the awards in sunny California yesterday
The Duchess of Sussex waited for other team members to leave the stage before walking away hand-in-hand with Harry
Harry and Meghan, who will soon jet off to the UK for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, held hands as they walked off
Meghan made a style statement – and protected her face from the sun – in a black wide-brimmed hat for the polo event
The couple appeared in excellent spirits as they held hands and made their way off the stage at the Santa Barbara event
The couple, who share children Archie and Lilibet, cooed over a toddler who had joined her mother at the polo
No hard feelings! Team members from Klentner Ranch, right, chatted to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after the match
Prince Harry’s BFF Nacho Figueras, left, was by the Duke’s side as they spoke to guests and officials after the event
By his side: Harry’s long-time friend Nacho Figueras pointed something out to Harry as they chatted after the match
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent time glad-handing guests after the royal’s victory on the polo pitch on Sunday
After leaving the stage, the Duchess of Sussex whipped off her designer sunglasses to mingle with some of the guests
