Prince William raises £1m with charity polo match as Princess Kate Middleton missing again
Prince William hit the saddle for a charity polo match earlier today
Prince William raised £1 million at this year’s charity polo match, but Kate Middleton was notably absent from the sidelines once again.
The Prince of Wales saddled up on Friday, July 11, for the 2025 Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Charity Polo Cup at Guards Polo Club in Windsor, raising an impressive £1 million for charities close to his and Princess Kate’s hearts.
Now in its 14th year, the annual event has become a summer staple in Prince William’s royal calendar. The total funds raised over the years now exceed £14 million.
As reported by The Telegraph, this year’s beneficiaries include Child Bereavement UK, NHS Charities Together, the British Red Cross, the Anna Freud Centre, We Are Farming Minds, and the Royal African Society.
Also among the recipients is We Are Farming Minds, a mental health charity for rural communities and farmers, which William recently became patron of.
Prince William raises £1m at charity polo match, but Kate Middleton is absent
As William showed off his polo skills on the field, one notable figure was missing from the sidelines.
Princess Kate, 43, who traditionally supports her husband at the event, was absent for the second year in a row.
While she dazzled earlier this week at the French state banquet in a red Sarah Burton gown and the Lover’s Knot tiara, she continues to maintain a carefully managed public schedule following her cancer treatment.
She also joined Prince William in greeting French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte at RAF Northolt and participated in a carriage procession and official lunch at the Castle.
Last week, during a hospital visit in Colchester, the princess opened up about the emotional toll of recovery.
“You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment. Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal.’
“But actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult. You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer. But you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to. You have to find your new normal, and that takes time. It’s a roller coaster. It’s not smooth, like you expect it to be.”
Despite skipping Friday’s match, hopes remain high that Kate will make a public appearance this weekend at Wimbledon. The princess usually presents trophies at the men’s and women’s finals and is an avid tennis fan herself.
Famous faces at the polo match
Back in Windsor, the polo event was attended by several familiar faces, including Peter Phillips, the Princess Royal’s son, and his girlfriend Harriet Sperling.
The sunny afternoon saw William take to the field with ease. The Prince of Wales embodied the same love for the sport that he’s had since childhood.
William’s commitment to causes benefiting mental health, children’s welfare, and community resilience was evident in the choice of charities supported this year.
And despite her absence, Kate’s influence was felt. The £1 million raised will go to ten charities supported by the couple, including Fields in Trust, a cause long associated with Prince Philip and now passed down to former England footballer Jill Scott.
With more than £1 million raised from a single day’s event, the prince’s dedication to sport and charity continues to shine.
While Kate continues to recover privately, her recent appearances at the French state visit, including a carriage procession, private lunch, and formal banquet alongside President Macron, signalled her gradual return to the public stage, and a reminder of the central role she and William play in the modern monarchy.
Read more: Prince William’s ‘message of rebellion’ against King Charles during state visit
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