Prince Harry, no stranger to the spotlight, found himself at the center of an international sports controversy this week after donning a Los Angeles Dodgers cap during a pivotal World Series game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The incident, quickly dubbed "Hat-Gate" by social media and the Canadian press, prompted the Duke of Sussex to issue a lighthearted yet heartfelt apology to Canadians during his recent visit to Toronto.
Harry’s apology came on November 7, 2025, during an interview with Canadian broadcaster CTV, where he addressed the uproar over his choice of headwear at Game 4 of the World Series. "Firstly, I would like to apologize to Canada for wearing it," Harry said with a sheepish grin, referring to the blue Dodgers cap that had ruffled feathers north of the border. He added, "Secondly, I was under duress. There wasn’t much choice. I was invited to the L.A. Dodgers box, or the dugout, by the owner himself, so I thought I was doing the polite thing to do." (NBC News, CTV, Fox News)
The apology came just days after Harry and Meghan Markle, his wife, were spotted in the front row at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2025. Both were sporting Dodgers blue as they watched the Blue Jays level the series against the LA team in Game 4. Their presence, seated directly behind home plate and in front of baseball legends like Sandy Koufax and Lakers co-owner Magic Johnson, did not go unnoticed. According to ABC News and Fox News, the couple’s prime seats and Harry’s hat choice sparked a lively debate about royal allegiances and national pride, especially given Canada’s status as a Commonwealth nation with Harry’s father, King Charles III, as head of state.
Harry’s explanation for his sartorial slip was both practical and self-deprecating. "When you’re missing a lot of hair on top, and you’re sitting under floodlights, you’ll take any hat that’s available," he quipped, drawing laughter from the CTV interviewer and viewers alike. To further demonstrate his support for Canada’s only Major League Baseball team, Harry donned a Blue Jays cap during the interview. "I’m going to wear this from now on to make sure I don’t make any more of those mistakes," he joked. (Fox News, CTV)
The incident, while seemingly trivial, struck a nerve in Canada, where baseball fans and royal watchers alike questioned Harry’s loyalties. Many Canadians expected him to root for the Blue Jays, given his deep ties to the country. Harry and Meghan briefly lived on Vancouver Island in 2020 after stepping down as working royals, and Meghan spent seven years in Toronto filming the hit TV show "Suits." The city also hosted the Invictus Games—founded by Harry—in 2017. During his Toronto visit, Harry reflected on these connections, telling the crowd at a military charity event, "This city has always meant a great deal to me. You provided me a wife." (CNN, ABC News, NBC News)
Harry’s apology tour extended beyond the television studio. At the True Patriot Love Foundation’s National Tribute Dinner, held to honor Canada’s military and veterans ahead of Remembrance Day, he addressed what he called "the blue-hatted elephant in the room." He told the audience, "I am truly sorry for wearing a Dodgers cap," receiving applause from those gathered. He then added, "Hopefully you can forgive her as a native Californian for her Dodgers loyalty, even if for just one evening," referencing Meghan’s ties to Los Angeles. (ABC News)
For Harry, the hat controversy was not just about baseball. It became a lighthearted test of allegiance between his birthplace in the United Kingdom, his adopted home in the United States, and his enduring bond with Canada. The prince made it clear, however, that his support for the Blue Jays was unwavering—at least for the final stretch of the World Series. "Game 5, Game 6, Game 7, I was Blue Jays throughout. Now that I’ve admitted that, it’s going to be pretty hard for me to return back to Los Angeles," he said, only half-joking. (CTV, NBC News)
Despite Harry’s public support, the Blue Jays’ championship dreams were dashed in dramatic fashion. The Dodgers clinched a 5-4 victory in an 11-inning Game 7 on October 30, 2025, securing their second consecutive World Series title—the first team to do so since the Yankees’ three-peat from 1998 to 2000. Harry, who was hatless during Game 7 as seen in a video shared by Meghan on Instagram, admitted, "I’m devastated that the Blue Jays lost, but go Jays." (Nexstar Media, Fox News)
Meghan, for her part, was heard cheering for the Dodgers in the background of the celebratory video, while her friend Kelly McKee Zajfen posted, "Best game ever!!! Sorry H your team didn’t win but mine diiiiiiiiid. @dodgers I LOVE YOU!!!!" The playful rivalry between the couple, and their cross-border loyalties, only added to the charm of the story for fans on both sides. (Fox News)
The "Hat-Gate" episode also highlighted Harry and Meghan’s unique position as transatlantic celebrities. Now settled in Montecito, California, with their children Archie and Lilibet, the couple maintains strong connections to both Canada and the United States. Harry’s willingness to poke fun at himself—and to publicly apologize—won him some goodwill in Canada, even as the debate about royal allegiances and baseball loyalties continued to simmer online and in the press. (NBC News, CNN)
As Remembrance Day approached, Harry’s visit to Canada took on a more somber note, with meetings and events honoring veterans and fallen soldiers. Yet, even amid these solemn ceremonies, the light-hearted controversy over a baseball cap served as a reminder of the prince’s enduring ties to Canada—and his ability to bridge nations with a smile, a joke, and a well-timed apology.
For many Canadians, Harry’s "Hat-Gate" gaffe will likely be remembered as a minor misstep, softened by his humility and humor. In the end, it’s clear that, for the Duke of Sussex, the bonds of friendship and family run deeper than any rivalry on the baseball diamond.
