People News

Prince William helps to raise over 1m for charity in six hours

Jul 15, 2012, 10:01 GMT

Prince William and Duchess Catherine

Britain's Prince William and Duchess Catherine helped to raise more than £1 million in just six hours during their US tour last year.

The royal couple - who tied the knot in April 2011 - helped to generate the staggering amount after celebrities including Jennifer Love Hewitt and Billy Zane paid thousands to rub shoulders with the pair during an afternoon at the Santa Barbara Polo Club in California last July.

A total of £1.1 million was raised during the event and just under £1 million has gone towards a UK charitable foundation set up by William and his brother, Prince Harry, with the remainder of the money going to the polo club's training centre, which runs events for local underprivileged children.

Ambassador Glen Holden, a trustee of the club who helped to set up the event, told the Sunday Express newspaper: 'I am extremely proud of what we did. It was a wonderful event.

'We were proud to have the royal couple at the club and for them to do such work for a good cause and raise such goodwill for England and America.

'Everyone that interacted with the duke and duchess thought they were so thoughtful, caring and welcoming. They did a marvellous job and these charities are charities that Americans are very much in favour of.'

Santa Barbara Polo Club organisers - who expected to raise around £420,000 from the charity day - are now hoping William or Harry will return to make the event a 'biannual or regular' feature.

Co-organiser Geannie Sheller said: 'That is something we would like to see. It has been talked about.'