Rediscovered footage shows young Prince Charles playing polo with his father 50 YEARS ago
A REDISCOVERED film showing a youthful-looking Prince Charles in his very first public appearance on the polo field has got Royal watchers excited.
Archive footage shows Prince Charles playing polo in 1966
The young prince plays in a teenager’s match before his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, plays in a senior game.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who would have been aged 45, scores a goal as Charles looks on alongside 14-year-old sister Princess Anne, no stranger to horses herself.
The clip features narration by an unidentified, but very well-spoken commentator, who pronounces: “On the island of Jamaica in the West Indies, Prince Philip and his son Prince Charles, sporting number one on his shirt add a royal touch to the Commonwealth Games at Kingston.
'Making his first public appearance as a polo player the young prince rides like a cowboy.'
“Polo is their game, the heir to the throne competing on a teenager's team.
“Making his first public appearance as a polo player the young prince rides like a cowboy.
“In perfect co-ordination, lad and pony gallop goalward.
“Prince Philip canters with the elders, as his son and daughter, Anne watch from the side lines.
“It's an action-full chukka and it's Queen Elizabeth's husband who scores the goal.”
The games were held from August 4-13, with Team GB winning ten more gold medals than their Australian counterparts, who finished runners-up in the medals table.
Just days earlier, on July 30, England had lifted the football World Cup in what proved to be a vintage year for British sport.
The Royal Family have a long tradition of playing polo, which is sometimes referred to as the “sport of kings”.
While the Duke of Edinburgh retired from playing six years after this footage was captured, Prince Charles continued playing competitively until 1992 and both his sons, William and Harry, still play regularly.
Harry’s soon-to-be wife, Meghan Markle, cheered him on during a match at Coworth Park Polo Club near Ascot last May and is rumoured to be so keen on the sport she is considering taking lessons herself.