Royal polo pony collapses and dies

Prince Harry's favourite pony collapsed and died of a heart attack after he had been riding the animal at a polo match.

The prince was said to be “very upset” at the death of Drizzle, a 10-year-old brown and white mare also ridden by Prince William and the Prince of Wales.

He took the animal off the pitch before the end of the game because he noticed she was having difficulty.

A senior Palace aide told The Mail on Sunday: “William and Harry are very, very upset – Harry was in tears.”

The pony died at a charity match at Coworth Park in Ascot, Berkshire, between a team in which both the princes were playing, and one fielded by the sponsor Audi.

Drizzle was one of a number of polo ponies stabled close to the Prince of Wales's Highgrove estate near Tetbury in Gloucestershire.

The Prince of Wales himself used to ride her until he gave up competitive polo in 2005.

The source said: “All the princes were very fond of her. It was not the end of the day that they had hoped for. It's been rather distressing.”

Both Princes William and Harry decided not to attend a lunch after the game, because they were so upset.