Prince Harry cancels visit for Dubai charity polo match
Prince Harry's visit to Dubai to play in a fund-raising polo match has been cancelled because of unrest in the region, St James's Palace has said.
The prince was due to take part in the Sentebale Cup in aid of his Africa charity on 19 March.
St James's Palace said the prince felt it would be insensitive to participate when there were "matters of greater priority to focus on in the region".
A spokesman said Harry had been "very much looking forward to the visit".
The prince would have incorporated a number of engagements into his one-day trip, his first to the United Arab Emirates.
Harry co-founded the Sentebale charity in 2006 to help children orphaned by HIV/Aids or affected by poverty in the southern African country of Lesotho.
Political unrest has affected several Middle East countries over recent weeks, including Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and the Gulf state of Bahrain.
A St James's Palace spokesman said: "Prince Harry was very much looking forward to the visit, but feels that it would be insensitive for him to participate in a sporting event at a time when there are matters of greater priority to focus on in the region."