Prince Harry has attended the ISPS (International Sports Promotion Society) Sports Values Summit-Special Edition in Tokyo, where he was pictured waving to fans in the crowd.
The Duke beamed and happily interacted with the audience as he took his place for the summit focusing on sport, community and philanthropy in the first of his international engagements this week.
His wife Meghan Markle was not by his side as it seems she has elected to stay home in Montecito with their two children, however Harry was accompanied by his polo pal Nacho Figueras as he touched down at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport yesterday.
Today, Harry joined a panel discussion with ex-New Zealand rugby player Dan Carter, with Sentebale chairwoman Sophie Chandauka; Royal Australian Navy Veteran and Invictus Games gold medallist Steve James; and Professor Wim de Villiers, the rector and vice-chancellor of South Africa’s Stellenbosch University also present.
He will then travel on to Singapore to take part in the 2023 Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Saturday to raise funds for his charity Sentebale, based in southern Africa.
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Yesterday Harry was filmed arriving at the Japanese capital wearing an Archewell baseball hat and was greeted by fans as he made his way through the airport.
One reporter could be heard off camera asking Harry: “How do you like to be in Japan for the first time in four years?”, to which the Duke replied: “Good to see you again.”
His plane arrived just after 1:30pm UK time (9:30pm Japanese time), with Harry and Meghan’s biographer Omid Scobie tweeting: “Lots of fans waiting for Harry in arrivals. The Royal Family have always had a big following in Japan (especially Princess Diana) and interest in the Sussexes continues to be strong. Fun fact: Finding Freedom is one of the few royal books to get a full Japanese release!”
Harry last visited Japan in 2019, when he attended the Rugby World Cup Final between England and South Africa in Yokohama, when he was still a working royal.
This Saturday’s Sentebale Polo Cup will raise money to support young people in southern Africa facing poverty, inequality and living with HIV/AIDS.
Since 2010 the sporting event has raised over £11million to support the cause, with Harry and Mr Figueras both playing last year when it was held in Colorado in the US.
The Prince said: “We are delighted to return to the renowned Singapore Polo Club in August, and are once again enormously grateful for the polo community and our sponsors, in particular ISPS Handa, for their ongoing commitment to Lesotho and Botswana’s youth.”
The royal will be playing on the Royal Salute Sentebale Team, while the charity’s ambassador Mr Figueras will captain the opposing team, the Singapore Polo Club Team.
Although Meghan may not be accompanying him this time, she will join him in September for the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany.
