We are delighted to announce the opportunity for CountryClubuk Members to enjoy a quintessentially English summer occasion with their guests. Guards Polo Club, the most prestigious of its kind in the world, is inviting our Members to attend the final of The Duke of Cornwall’s Trophy Tournament in a private lawn enclosure next to The Royal Box. From this prime position beside the Queen’s Ground, our Members will enjoy an exhilarating close-up of the high-speed action, drink Champagne, and feast on a genuine Argentinian ‘asado’ lunch.

Guards was originally the Household Brigade Polo Club with HRH the Prince Philip as President, a position he still occupies. Other senior members of the Royal Family attend regularly, in particular HM The Queen, HRH the Prince of Wales and the Princes William and Harry.

The broad tree-fringed expanse of Smith’s Lawn, at the heart of Windsor Great Park, has always been the Club’s idyllic home. Walking along private pathways through ancient woodlands where Edward the Confessor hunted wild boar, and across parkland laid out by King Charles II, it is difficult to believe you are so near London and within a few miles of three motorways (M3, M4 and M25).

The gates at Guards open at 10am, giving you and your guests five hours before the match starts to enjoy the quintessential Guards atmosphere and to make the most of the occasion. Apart from the polo ground itself, you can explore the nearby Savill Garden, one of Britain’s greatest ornamental gardens, developed under the patronage of Kings and Queens of England. Or wander into The Valley Gardens, a flowering forest on the northern shores of Virginia Water, with meandering pathways and plunging views. Virginia Water itself is a great spectacle—dammed and flooded in 1753, it was for a long time the largest man-made body of water in the British Isles.

Returning to our private lawn area at Guards, you will be welcomed with a glass of delicious Pol Roger Champagne and the mouth-watering ‘asado’ lunch, served by our personal Guards steward.

Asado is the traditional Argentinian barbecue in which a whole lamb—in our case a Berkshire Down lamb—and a pig are slowly spit-roast. The meat is served with crisp bread rolls, Chimichurri sauce and an array of salads, followed by ices. But this is more than a barbecue. An Argentinian prefers to eat his meat at an asado: it represents the Argentinian way of living and enjoying life.

As to the polo itself, this is sure to be exciting. By the time the Final matches are played before us on August 30, The Duke of Cornwall Trophy will have been hard-fought at matches since August 18. The tournament is named for HRH Prince Charles and is an official Hurlingham Polo Association competition which attracts many medium-goal teams—His Royal Highness’s own handicap was four prior to his retirement from the sport in 2005. His trophy is a great opportunity to see fast-paced polo played by some of the rising stars of both England and Argentina.

The cost of this quintessentially English occasion will be just £43 per person, which entitles you and your guests to day passes to Guards, entrance to our exclusive lawn area with our personal steward, the asado lunch and a glass of Champagne. For additional drinks, a pay bar is available. Guards make an advance parking charge of £20 per vehicle, no matter how many occupants (rising to £40 on the day).

The number in our party will be limited to 80 Members and their guests. Please click here now to reserve your places, or call Member Services on 020 7935 0888.