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Prince Harry apologizes to Canada for Dodgers hat at World Series game
The Duke of Sussex has issued an apology to Canada after wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers cap during Game 4 of the World Series, a move that sparked criticism from Canadians who felt he should have supported the Toronto Blue Jays-the only Canadian team in Major League Baseball.
Under 'duress': Prince Harry's lighthearted explanation
In an interview with CTV, Prince Harry joked that he was "under duress" when he donned the bright blue Dodgers hat, calling it "the polite thing to do" after being invited by the team's owner. "Firstly, I would like to apologize to Canada for wearing it," he said. "Secondly, I was under duress. There wasn't much choice."
He added humorously, "When you're missing a lot of hair on top, and you're sitting under floodlights, you'll take any hat that's available." The prince, who now sports a Blue Jays cap, pledged allegiance to the Toronto team moving forward.
Backlash from Canadians and Dodgers fans
Many in Canada, a Commonwealth nation where King Charles III serves as head of state, criticized Prince Harry for not showing loyalty to the realm or its sole MLB team. Meanwhile, Dodgers fans in the U.S. expressed frustration over the couple's front-row seats at the 18-inning game, while local legends like Magic Johnson and Sandy Koufax sat behind them.
Prince Harry's shifting loyalties
During a Remembrance event with Canada's oldest veterans on Thursday, Prince Harry was gifted a Blue Jays hat, which he wore during the interview. His wife, Meghan Markle-a Los Angeles native-shared a clip of him cheering for Toronto in Game 7, which the Dodgers ultimately won.
The prince acknowledged that openly supporting the Blue Jays might complicate his reception in California, where the couple has lived since stepping back as full-time royals in 2020.
Reflections on British culture
Coinciding with his Canadian visit, Prince Harry published an essay titled "What it means to be British," praising the country's "banter" in pubs and sports grounds and its tradition of self-deprecating humor as defining traits of British culture.
