Prince Harry falls off polo pony in New York

Prince Harry has taken a tumble from his horse before his defeat in a New York polo match against the world's best known polo player, Argentina's Nacho Figueras.

But it was all for a good cause, to benefit 400,000 children of the AIDS-ravaged African nation of Lesotho.

The 25-year-old fell off his polo pony in the first half of the 3rd Annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic on Governor's Island.

But he had a smile on his face as he got up and continued the contest, which Figueras' Black Watch team won 6-5 in overtime.

At first, the prince's Black Rock foursome was ahead, with Harry scoring an early two points, despite his fall.

Harry played as part of his pledge to continue his mother's work. Princess Diana, who was often photographed embracing HIV-positive mothers and children, died in 1997 in a Paris car crash.

Before the match, Harry said the heat, which topped 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius), was "a welcome relief after the snow and ice of Lesotho, where I was last week."

Earlier, Harry joined guests in the VIP tent where lunch tables for 10 overlooking the polo field went for as much as £33,000.

Proceeds from the day will go to American Friends of Sentebale, a charity set up in 2006 by Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho where many children are AIDS orphans.