Prince Harry’s polo pal slams ‘weird’ Netflix show, says duke would ‘look like an idiot’ returning to UK

Tommy Severn, the captain of Polo England, delivered a brutal assessment of Prince Harry's new show on Netflix
PUBLISHED DEC 22, 2024
Prince Harry’s new Netflix docuseries 'Polo' has been torn apart by critics and panned by viewers (Getty Images)
Prince Harry’s new Netflix docuseries 'Polo' has been torn apart by critics and panned by viewers (Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND: Prince Harry's new Netflix series on polo has faced its fair share of criticism, and now, a former close friend of the duke is joining the chorus.

Tommy Severn, the captain of Polo England, has publicly slammed 'Polo', calling it "very weird".

He also criticized the portrayal of Harry's involvement in the sport. He said the California-based Harry "can’t come back to England now" as any return would make him "look like an idiot".



 

Tommy Severn baffled by Prince Harry's minimal presence in Netflix's 'Polo'

Netflix's 'Polo', executive produced by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, "offers audiences an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look into the passion and determination driving some of the world’s elite polo players, revealing the grit behind the glamour". The docuseries premiered on December 10.

Tommy Severn, who has played polo alongside both Prince William and Prince Harry, was particularly baffled by the docuseries' focus. Despite being billed as a deep dive into the world of polo and its fierce rivalries, Harry's appearance in the series is minimal, according to Daily Mail.

The 40-year-old prince features only briefly throughout the five episodes.

"It seemed to be more about Timmy and Tim Dutta than the Prince, who doesn’t appear until near the end," Severn said, referring to polo players Timmy Dutta, 23, and his father, who fund the team Harry plays for in the US.

SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE - AUGUST 12: Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Co-Founding Patron of Sentebale plays polo during the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on August 12, 2023 in Singapore. The annual Polo Cup has been running since 2010, and to date has raised over £11 million to support Sentebale's work with children and young people affected by poverty, inequality and HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. (Photo by Matt Jelonek/Getty Images for Sentebale)
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, co-founding patron of Sentebale, plays polo during the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on August 12, 2023, in Singapore (Matt Jelonek/Getty Images for Sentebale)

Severn expressed dismay over the lack of mention of Harry's early years in the sport. When questioned about why the duke didn't mention his early polo years with Severn and his family, he responded, "I have no idea."

Tommy Severn reflects on Prince Harry's strained ties

Prince William and Harry were so close to the Severn family at one time that both kept their ponies at Severn’s grandfather’s polo stud in Gloucestershire. Additionally, Harry spent his gap year at the family’s ranch in Argentina.

Severn admitted that Harry seems to have cut ties with them. "I think Harry’s cut ties so if he came back now, he’d look like an idiot," Severn added bluntly, suggesting that any return to the UK would be a difficult and embarrassing move for the duke.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, attends the One805Live Fall Concert on September 20, 2024 in Carpinteria, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, attends the One805Live Fall Concert on September 20, 2024, in Carpinteria, California (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

However, Severn didn't completely rule out the possibility of reconciliation in the future. "William might help him because they were close – that’s the brothers bond," he said, leaving the door open for potential healing between the brothers.

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan's latest project, 'Polo', is a flop. The show failed to make the top 10 list in Britain, America or globally, amid harsh criticism from reviewers.

Jane Fryer's review for the Daily Mail labeled the show as "plodding" and "boring," while The Guardian referred to it as an "unintentionally hilarious profile of the world’s stupidest sport".

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