Join us for a quintessentially English Summer sporting and social occasion at Guards Polo Club, Royal Windsor: The Final of the Duke of Wellington’s Trophy, including a delicious Three-Course Champagne Sunday Lunch by Mosimann’s in Guards Clubhouse: Sunday, August 18

Guards Polo Club is inviting our Members to attend The Duke of Wellington’s Trophy Final on Sunday, August 18, and enjoy a Champagne Sunday Lunch in Guards Club. The late Duke of Wellington was a founder of Guards Polo Club, as well as being one of our CountryClubuk Members. This, his Grace’s personal tournament, is highly regarded and hard fought, producing a thrilling final—and the Wellesley family now present the trophy in his honour. We are thrilled to be there again in Guards Clubhouse to enjoy the entire day, thrilling sport and a Champagne Lunch prepared by Mosimann’s.

We are delighted to invite our Members to enjoy this English summer day of superb sport, wining and dining at Guards Polo Club, Smith’s Lawn, Royal Windsor, the most prestigious of its kind in the world.

Founded in January 1955, Guards was originally the Household Brigade Polo Club, with HRH the Prince Philip as President, a position he still occupies. HM The Queen, HRH Prince William and HRH Prince Harry regularly attend, and Guards Clubhouse was designed by HRH the Prince of Wales, who was himself a fine polo player, playing for England II. The Prince said of his sport, ‘I cannot help feeling that there are few team games in existence to rival polo for sheer excitement, speed and fascination.’

The Duke of Wellington’s Trophy Final has long been a favourite sporting day for our Members, who have often attended in the years when the 8th Duke was there to watch the Final and present his trophy to the winning patron—which he did until the year before his death in 2014, aged 99. Played off 12-goals, the tournament always provides plenty of lively, competitive polo—and with the addition of Victor Ludorum honours, there is plenty to play for. As for the spectators, a succession of exciting sights and sounds will impress themselves upon the senses; and a feast of sport and fine afternoon’s entertainment can always be expected—as well as a jolly good lunch prepared by Mosimann’s in Guards Clubhouse.

Our Members will enjoy the full day at Guards Polo Club, from its opening at 10am, enjoying the scene at Guards and the Sub-Final of the Duke of Wellington before the delicious three-course Sunday buffet lunch by Mosimann’s, preceded by a perfectly chilled glass of Champagne. (Thinking of Champagne, you can opt instead for Guards’ ‘Sunday Free Flow’—including Champagne and excellent wines served from 12.30pm-2.30pm. The selection is planned to start with the deliciously complex Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut Champagne, with its fine bubbles and hints of honeysuckle and white peach, moving on to Mosimann’s delicious sommelier selections of red and white wines.)

As to the food, it is too soon to know the exact menu for the day—but we can rely on Mosimann’s to create a suitably fitting repast for the Duke of Wellington Final. Recent Sunday lunches have included such delights as starters of Peppered Tuna with Pink Grapefruit Salad, Mango and Papaya Salsa, and Wye Valley Asparagus with Keen’s Cheddar and Sherry, mains of Roasted Sirloin of Scottish Beef with all the trimmings, Loch Duart Salmon Supreme, plenty of delicious salads, and scrumptious puddings such as Raspberry and Whisky Cranachan with Oatcakes and Raspberry Wafer, Panacotta with Viennese Biscuit and Berry Compote, and White Chocolate and Raspberry Mousse with Dark Chocolate and Lime. This will be followed by teas or coffees of your choice—and then it’s a stroll across Guards’ manicured lawns to your Grandstand seats to watch the thrilling Duke of Wellington Final on the Queen’s Ground.

There will be time to wander back to Guards Clubhouse to relax, or to enjoy further refreshments as you wish—Champagne and Pimm’s are of course part of the polo scene, and Members may choose to buy their preferred ref

BOOK YOUR PLACES AT GUARDS

All arrangements have been made to make the day smooth and enjoyable. You are invited to arrive at the Blacknest Gate main entrance to Guards at any time from 10am onwards on Sunday, August 18. Order of the day: 10am – Gates Open; 12 noon – The Sub-Final of The Duke of Wellington; 1pm – Mosimann’s Sunday Lunch with Glass of Champagne (or with ‘Sunday Free-flow’ of Champagne and Wines, 12.30pm-2.30pm); 3pm – The Final of the Duke of Wellington on the Queen’s Ground.

The cost for the day, including your Guards Polo Club day pass, grandstand and car park badges, glass of Champagne and three-course buffet lunch, will be £89 per person, including VAT. If you choose instead to enjoy the day including Guards’ ‘Sunday Free-Flow’ (12.30pm-2.30pm), the all-inclusive price will be £129 per person. Numbers are of course limited, but our Members are warmly invited to bring their personal guests to share the enjoyment of this supremely English summer event.

Please reserve your places now for the Final of the Duke of Wellington’s Trophy at Guards Polo Club, Smith’s Lawn, Windsor, on Sunday, August 18. Click here for immediate bookings online for the full event with Champagne Sunday Lunch, or click here for the full event and Lunch with ‘Sunday Free-Flow’ of Champagne and Wines. Or call Member Services on 020 7399 2960 to make your reservations.

¶ To extend the pleasure of the event, and stay a night or two at luxurious Cliveden House, the Club rate is from £389 for two, including a bottle of Champagne on ice to await you, full English breakfasts, a complimentary room upgrade if this is available when you arrive, VAT and service. The current best rate available elsewhere is £495 without the Champagne or upgrade. Please click here to check availability.