AbstractThe singular values of products of standard complex Gaussian random matrices, or sub-blocks of Haar distributed unitary matrices, have the property that their probability distribution has an explicit, structured form referred to as a polynomial ensemble. It is furthermore the case that the corresponding bi-orthogonal system can be determined in terms of Meijer G-functions, and the correlation kernel given as an explicit double contour integral. It has recently been shown that the Hermitised product {X_{M}\cdots X_{2}X_{1}AX_{1}^{T}X_{2}^{T}\cdots X_{M}^{T}}, where each {X_{i}} is a standard real Gaussian matrix and A is real anti-symmetric, exhibits analogous properties. Here we use the theory of spherical functions and transforms to present a theory which, for even dimensions, includes these properties of the latter product as a special case. As an example we show that the theory also allows for a treatment of this class of Hermitised product when the {X_{i}} are chosen as sub-blocks of Haar distributed real orthogonal matrices.