Prince Harry Invited To Join The Chukka Team

Photo Left: Chukka Co-Managing Director Marc Melville presents Prince Harry with an invitation to play at Chukka's annual Hanover Charities Polo Tournament. Photo Right: Chukka guide Odette Hawthorne explains to Prince Harry the history of the Great House at Good Hope Estate.

March 7, 2012 (Montego Bay, Jamaica) - Today the Directors and Chairman of Chukka hosted Prince Henry of Wales during his tour of Jamaica, representing his grandmother on the occasion of her diamond jubilee.

The tour represents not only his first trip to the Caribbean, but also his first trip as the sole Representative of the Royal Family. He was greeted by Chukka Director Paola Byles.

"It was a privilege to host the Prince at the Great House," said Chukka Chairman Danny Melville. "We are proud of the Estate, all of our team members, and the opportunity to preserve and present the culture and history of Jamaica. To have the chance to show all of those things off to the Prince was a real pleasure."

The Prince arrived with his entourage, a group of local and international media and support staff. Tour guests from a number of cruise ships who were on site at the time had an up-close and personal glimpse of the Prince. One guest from the UK was commenting that they never get this close at home. Once inside the Estate, Prince Harry was treated to a personal tour of the Great House by one of Chukka's guides, Miss Odette Hawthorne.

The Chukka team also ensured that the Prince knew he was welcome back anytime. Co-Managing Director Marc Melville presented the Prince with a Polo stick and a personal invitation to return in February of 2013, to be the fourth on the Chukka Polo team at their annual Hanover Charities Polo Match.

"Polo is dear to the heart of us all at Chukka, as is Hanover Charities," smiled John Byles, Co-Managing Director of Chukka. "We know the Prince is a Polo player, so we thought it would be a great excuse for him to return to Jamaica, support a great charity and play Polo - what could be better?"

The Prince laughed as he accepted the stick, and said he thought it looked like a good one. He spent about an hour at Good Hope Great House, learning the history and stories of the Estate.