Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have unveiled a new Netflix documentary series centred around the world of polo.
The eagerly-awaited show, which delves into the drama both on and off the field in this elite sport, has now been released. Harry, played the sport for many years, and Meghan signed a multi-million-pound contract with Netflix in 2020 following their unexpected departure from royal duties that left the nation stunned.
Now, the showrunner of Polo has candidly revealed the couple’s intentions behind this latest project for the streaming giant and what it was like to collaborate with them according to reports in the Mirror.
Miloš Balać, speaking to the New York Post, shared that Meghan and Harry were eager to demonstrate that there’s more to polo than its image as an exclusive, luxury sport.
They wanted the series to delve into the grit and determination required in each match, as well as the strong sense of community found on the sidelines. Balać, who also produced the popular documentary series Welcome to Wrexham for Disney Plus, said working with the couple was “amazing”.
He added: “Both Prince Harry and Meghan were just amazing collaborators from the start,” and “They have so much knowledge about the sport, but also an understanding that we’re trying to bring new people into this world.”
The showrunner revealed that Prince Harry, with his extensive experience in the sport, provided a deep dive into the intricacies of polo, while Meghan Markle, being relatively new to the scene, offered a fresh perspective akin to that of the audience, many of whom may have little to no knowledge of the game. Balać mentioned that he himself was initially unfamiliar with polo but worked closely with the Royal couple to leverage both perspectives in crafting a show aimed at drawing more interest to the sport.
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He noted that polo is known as the sport of kings due to its costly nature—horses, lessons, and club memberships are not inexpensive—and the couple’s goal was to make it more accessible and dismantle the stereotypes associated with it. “I think the collective intention was definitely, definitely to grow the audience of polo,” the showrunner commented.
“I think the difference in approach was that Harry, you know, is really seeing it as ‘look at how incredible these athletes are. Look how incredible these animals are’ which Meghan sees and says the same. But I think for her, it’s also like, ‘Look at how incredible this community is.'”.
The showrunner revealed their intention to portray the regular presence of Meghan at the polo matches, saying: “You know, she’s the one who’s sitting watching from the side of the field and she was there, and we wanted to showcase that part of the world as well, where it really does feel like one big family. I think that was really the feeling we were going for from the start.”
He further elaborated on challenging the preconception that polo is exclusive to the affluent elite. Harry and Meghan aimed not only to display the sport’s glam but also the extreme dedication of both the athletes and horses, plus the personal sacrifices necessary to compete at peak level.
All five episodes of ‘Polo’ are now available on Netflix, with Prince Harry featuring in the finale which spotlights the Sentebale Polo Cup—a key event supporting his charity.
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