Prince Harry Ends US Visit With Polo Match In Conn.
HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) --Britain's Prince Harry capped his weeklong trip to the U.S. by winning a charity polo match at a star-studded event in Connecticut.
The prince's team won 4-3 after he scored a game-tying goal Wednesday afternoon at the Greenwich Polo Club. The match benefited Sentebale, the charity he co-founded to help poor children and AIDS orphans in the small African nation of Lesotho.
The invitation-only polo match drew hundreds of guests including supermodel Karolina Kurkova and fashion designers Jason Wu and Valentino.
The royal visit to the U.S. ended with horse-play of a different kind for the sometimes high-spirited Prince Harry.
PHOTOS: Prince Harry Plays Polo
Residents at the polo match remarked on his restrained behavior.
"He's got his pants on," spectator Tom Theoband joked to CBS 2's Lou Young.
The quip referenced the price's visit to Las Vegas last summer where he was infamously caught naked on camera.
"He's always having fun, he's good-looking, he's athletic. He seems like a nice guy, so we like him!" Lexi Henkle told Young at the polo grounds.
The polo match was Prince Harry's 15th public event during his U.S. visit.
The prince stayed on message and away from the media, politely greeting former supermodel Stephanie Seymour in Greenwich. She is the wife of Harry's U.S. host.
Before the match, Harry plugged his charity.
"I urge you to come and see our work in Lesotho. We're not asking you to give money needlessly without any knowledge of where it will end up. The beauty of this project is that your money will become a roof, a building, a bed or a swing - all of which you can come and see anytime you'd like," the prince said.
Prince Harry said he's had a wonderful week in the U.S. and thanked the American people for their generosity. He said without that support, many children in Lesotho would be lacking basic needs such as food, shelter and care.
PHOTOS: Prince Harry Visits Jersey Shore | Prince Harry Visits New York City
Connecticut's governor was not there. Dannel P. Malloy's office confirms he was not among those invited.
"He's more of a hockey guy, anyway,'' Malloy spokesman David Bednarz told the Greenwich Time.
Prince Harry's visit to Greenwich offered a lighter tone than his stop Tuesday in New Jersey, where he toured areas damaged by Superstorm Sandy.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie showed the prince a spot in Mantoloking where the sea had cut the town in half, taking out a bridge and houses. The channel has since been filled in.
"This used to be a house?'' Prince Harry asked at one barren spot.
They then headed to Seaside Heights, where Christie led the prince along the rebuilt boardwalk. The two then played a game of chance, tossing plastic balls at a hole and giving the prizes to children who they were teamed with.
The prince said he was impressed to see the Garden State's recovery effort.
"Everyone getting together and making things right, it's fantastic -- really good," he said.
Prince Harry spent Tuesday afternoon in New York City at events promoting tourism, entrepreneurism and philanthropy.
Later in the afternoon, he participated in baseball drills with Harlem RBI's youth on the Field of Dreams on East 101st Street.
Sebastian Segura, an 18-year-old coach at Harlem RBI, said he couldn't believe he was playing baseball with the prince.
"It was a humbling experience," he said. "This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
While dozens of kids cheered him on, the prince briefly took batting practice from Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira, making contact with all three pitches.
"He's a great athlete. I just said keep your eye on the ball," Teixeira said afterward.
The prince began a week-long visit to the U.S. on May 9.
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