The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, has issued an apology to Canada after wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers cap while attending a World Series clash against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The prince explained that he donned the bright blue hat during Game 4 in Los Angeles because he believed it was “the polite thing to do” after being invited by the Dodgers’ owner.
However, his choice of headgear didn’t sit well with some Canadians, many of whom felt he should have shown loyalty to the realm’s only Major League Baseball team.
Harry’s father, King Charles, remains the head of state in Canada and 13 other Commonwealth nations.
“Firstly, I would like to apologise to Canada for wearing it,” Harry said during an interview with CTV. “Secondly, I was under duress. There wasn’t much choice.”
During the chat, the prince sported a Toronto Blue Jays cap and joked, “When you’re missing a lot of hair on top, and you’re sitting under flood lights, you’ll take any hat that’s available.”
He added that he intends to wear a Blue Jays hat from now on and was later seen cheering for the Canadian side in subsequent games. In a clip shared by the Duchess of Sussex, a Los Angeles native, Harry appeared to be supporting Toronto even after the Dodgers claimed the series victory in Game 7.
On Thursday, while meeting some of Canada’s oldest veterans at Sunnybrook Hospital’s veterans centre in Toronto, Harry was gifted a Blue Jays hat.
He joined them for a creative arts session as part of a Remembrance event, remarking that openly supporting Toronto might not go down well in California.
The Sussexes, who relocated to California in 2020 after stepping back as full-time royals, were also criticised by American fans for occupying prime front-row seats during the intense 18-inning showdown at Dodger Stadium.
Some Dodgers supporters voiced their displeasure on social media, noting that icons like Magic Johnson and legendary pitcher Sandy Koufax were seated behind the couple.
Coincidentally, earlier in the week, Harry released an essay titled What It Means to Be British, ahead of his trip to meet veterans in Canada.
In it, he reflected on the traits he cherishes about British life, including the easy banter of pubs and sports grounds, and a national knack for good-natured “self-deprecation.”
