Royal visit: Watch Prince William play polo -- for $400 and up

Ready to pony up $400 or $4,000 to watch Will play polo? A few tickets are left for the Saturday charity match at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria. Britain’s Prince William will play for Team Royal Salute, and his wife, Catherine Middleton, will bestow an award on the winners, club spokeswoman Lauren Kay said.

A $4,000 VIP ticket gets you a reserved seat, access to the hospitality tent, lunch prepared by chef Giada De Laurentiis and free drinks at the Royal Salute bar. (Kay said these tickets are available beyond the deadline indicated on the website.)

Club tickets at $400 a pop come with a De Laurentiis picnic lunch and open seating for the match, which will start at 3 p.m. Saturday.

[Updated at 1:45 p.m. July 8: Tickets for the match are no longer available.]

[Updated at 12:45 p.m. July 7: VIP tickets have sold out but a limited number of Club tickets were still available, Kay said.]

It’s a guaranteed way to see the royals in action -- and raise funds for the American Friends of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, which means that most of the ticket price is tax deductible, according to the club.

The event was in the news Wednesday after plastic surgeon Dr. Toby Mayer said he would be looking after the prince’s medical needs during the match. Not so, said the polo club, though undoubtedly someone will be on hand for that task.

Click here to learn how to get tickets.