Vintage Chicago Tribune: King Charles returns in 1986 — without Princess Diana and sons William and Harry
An invitation to play in a polo match brought Prince Charles — who would become King Charles after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 — to the United States in 1986 for the seventh time in six years.
Though, he had to get some work in before participating in his favorite sport during the four-day trip.
The prince was the second choice to give the keynote address at Harvard University’s 350th anniversary celebration after its governing body refused to give President Ronald Reagan an honorary degree due to his educational policies. He then shook hands with common folk before attending a reception celebrating Boston’s founding fathers.
The prince had been invited to Illinois by Michael Butler, manager of Oak Brook Polo Club, and his sister, Jorie, for a match against a local team.
Here’s a look at the itinerary created for Prince Charles, who was by then married to Princess Diana and the father of William and Harry, which the Tribune described as 24 1/2 hours of “carefully planned royal frenzy.”
Sept. 4, 1986
5:24 p.m.: Chicago’s Midway International Airport
The prince shakes hands with Mayor Harold Washington, Lt. Gov. George Ryan and a few other dignitaries before climbing into the back seat of a black Jaguar XJ-6 for a 20-minute ride to his next destination.
About 6 p.m.: The Drake Hotel
The prince ducks in and out quickly to freshen up.
After he swept past, Jackie Weiler said she wished he had stood out and waved longer. “But we got a good look,” she said. “Now we know just how short he really is.”
He leaves the property at 7:43 p.m.
8:30 p.m.: Walnut Room, Marshall Field’s State Street Store
The prince arrives at the Oak Park Polo Ball, a fundraiser for the Field Museum and the Salisbury Cathedral in Britain, wearing a double-breasted tuxedo.
Club member Helen Krolik met the Prince of Wales when he first walked through an eighth-floor reception — decked out in fake turf in the design of a polo field — on his way to a private reception. One of the security personnel bumped into her, knocking her gin and tonic onto her chiffon gown.
“Prince Charles took out his hankie and wiped my front. I was so stunned,” she said. For the rest of the evening, people told her she should have saved the napkin.
After dinner, the prince spoke of his pleasure at returning to Chicago and looked forward to playing polo in Oak Brook.
“I hadn’t realized what a dangerous club it was,” he said, referring to the broken ankle Butler suffered the previous week. Noting that Butler was planning to play in the next day’s match, he said, “He is either unbelievably brave or incredibly stupid.” The audience roared.
Sept. 5, 1986
10:30 a.m.: Marshall Field’s State Street Store
The prince opens the store’s salute to Great Britain during a ribbon-cutting ceremony while outside the building a television crew was preparing to film a segment of “The Untouchables” show.
“They’re going to throw a guy off the roof, and he falls through the top of a parked car,” explained a worker who was preparing the shot.
The prince then strolled past showcases of biscuits, chutney and fine teas on his way to the wine shop, where he observed the art of blending scotch whiskeys. He was then presented with a “Master Blender for the Day” certificate. He also shopped — picking up a silk scarf, an antique silver box and a women’s calfskin combination purse and wallet.
A recording of “Pomp and Circumstance” played as he inspected store windows featuring British themes.
An observer commented that while the turnout for the prince was impressive, she remembered thousands more spectators the day “Miami Vice” filmed inside the store.
Late morning: Whitney Young Magnet High School
Students were won over by the prince because he was “very cool” and, best of all, not stuck up in the least.
With Teia Thompson, 13, the prince chatted about music videos during his 35-minute to the Near West Side school.
“He’s a very cool guy,” she said. “He was very easy to talk to. He knew stuff about kids and what we watch; not like my parents.”
Midday: Gold Coast Room, The Drake Hotel
The prince greets about 170 persons, spending roughly 30 seconds or so with each. He also signed the hotel’s book — just as his parents did during their visit to The Drake in 1959.
Across the street from the hotel, doorman Casey Stryganek observed that he had seen them all make their grand entries and exits to and from the hotel. Charles, he told the Tribune, was right up there with President Reagan, Eunice Shriver and Prince, the singer and musician.
3:10 p.m.: Oak Brook Polo Club
“How else could a prince end a daylong stay in Chicago but with a rousing game of polo?” the Tribune asked.
The British team scored first in the Prince of Wales Cup match and never lost the lead after that. The prince served as the team’s captain — taking the place of Major Ronald Ferguson, the father of Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson, then Duchess of York — and also scored two points.
Early in the match, a collision at the north end of the field — which was roughly nine football fields in size — left England’s star player Andrew Seavill pinned beneath his horse and the prince laid out beside him.
An ambulance and a paramedic rushed to the scene, and the player’s horse was hoisted from his leg. After a five-minute pause, both the player and the prince appeared to be okay. And a few moments later, the horse rose to a standing ovation.
“I liked the part when he fell, the best,” said Chicago-based political satirist Aaron Freeman. “It’s not often you see people who won the genetic lottery embarrassing themselves in public.”
7:25 p.m.: Midway airport
The prince’s jet, a royal BAe 146-100, lifts off almost 26 hours after his arrival, bound for Scotland.
Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.
Twitter @rumormill
