Prince Harry Makes Surprise Appearance at World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen, Standing In for a Friend

The Duke of Sussex competed against his friend Nacho Figueras after hitting the ski slopes together

NEED TO KNOW

• Prince Harry participated in the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen, Colorado, on Dec. 17
• A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex confirms to PEOPLE that he was standing in for a friend at the tournament
• Harry competed against his good friend Nacho Figueras, with whom he spent time skiing during their visit to Aspen

Prince Harry is taking the polo field like never before.

Harry, 41, took part in the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen, Colorado, on Dec. 17, with photos showing him riding on horseback in polo gear. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex confirms to PEOPLE that he was standing in for a friend at the polo tournament.

According to Aspen Snow Polo’s Instagram page, he is competing on the Aspen Valley team. Meanwhile, his friend and former professional polo player Nacho Figueras joined the St. Regis team alongside his sons, Artemo and Hilario.

The snow polo event drew some famous faces last year, including Anna Kendrick, Nicky Hilton, Billie Lourd and Riley Keough.

Related Stories

The Royal Family’s Best Polo Moments, from William and Harry Facing Off to Sweet Sideline Squads

We Tried It: Learning to Play Polo at Prince William and Prince Harry’s Polo Club

Prince Harry is known to saddle up for charity matches throughout the years, even competing against his brother, Prince William, before stepping back from his royal role in 2020.

Last year, he rode at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Florida, where Meghan Markle supported her husband and Netflix cameras captured content for their documentary series Polo, which premiered in 2024.

The outing wasn’t the Duke and Sussex and Figueras’ first time taking the polo field in Aspen. Harry and his friend previously competed together there in the Sentebale Polo Cup at the Aspen Valley Polo Club in August 2022.

Earlier on Dec. 17, Hello! published photos of Prince Harry and Figueras skiing in Aspen. A source told the outlet, “Prince Harry was with Nacho for about four hours on the mountains. The pair spent the day skiing and enjoyed lunch together at one of the restaurants at the resort. Harry seemed happy and was also joined by a number of male friends on the slopes.”

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! 

According to the outlet, Meghan, 44, and their children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, did not join the ski trip, adding that the family is planning to celebrate Christmas at home in Montecito, California.