Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, found himself in the middle of a light-hearted international stir after wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers cap to Game 4 of the 2025 World Series, an act that sparked playful outrage among Canadian baseball fans. The event, which unfolded on October 28 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, saw Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, both sporting the home team’s blue and white gear as they cheered from the stands. But for Canadians—especially fans of the Toronto Blue Jays, who were vying for their first World Series title since 1993—the sight of a royal supporting the opposition was a tough pill to swallow.
Harry’s apology came swiftly and with a generous dose of humor. On November 6, during a solo visit to Toronto ahead of Remembrance Day, the prince addressed what quickly became known as “hatgate.” In an interview with CTV News, Harry donned a Blue Jays cap and said, “Firstly, I would like to apologize to Canada for wearing it. Secondly, I was under duress. There wasn’t much choice.” He explained that he had been invited to the Dodgers’ owner’s box and felt obliged to wear the team’s hat as a gesture of politeness. “I was doing what I thought was the polite thing to do,” he added with a grin.
Harry, never one to shy away from self-deprecating humor, also cited a more personal reason for his choice of headwear. “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 joked, drawing laughter from those in attendance. The prince’s easygoing manner helped diffuse any lingering disappointment among Canadian fans, many of whom had hoped to see him supporting the Blue Jays—a team from a country where he once lived and which is part of the Commonwealth.
But Harry wasn’t content to simply apologize. In a show of good sportsmanship and a bit of royal charm, he promised to make amends. “I’m going to wear this [Blue Jays cap] from now on to make sure I don’t make any more of those mistakes… Game 5, Game 6, Game 7, I was Blue Jays throughout. Now that I’ve admitted that, it’s going to be really hard to return to Los Angeles,” he quipped, acknowledging the friendly rivalry between his adopted California home and his Commonwealth ties.
Meghan Markle, a Los Angeles native, was seen by many as having a valid excuse for her Dodgers allegiance. She celebrated the Dodgers’ eventual World Series victory with enthusiasm, posting a jubilant video to her Instagram Stories on November 1. The video captured Meghan jumping and cheering in her home theater before planting a kiss on Harry’s forehead, a moment that delighted fans on both sides of the border. Meghan’s friend, Kelly McKee Zajfen, further stoked the friendly banter by reposting the video with the caption, “Best game ever!!!! Sorry H your team didn’t win but mine diiiiiiiiid. @dodgers I LOVE YOU!!!!”
While Harry’s hat choice made headlines, his visit to Toronto was about more than baseball. The prince’s two-day stay in the city was packed with engagements supporting Canadian veterans and the armed forces. On November 5, Harry spent time with soldiers from the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada and the Royal Regiment of Canada. The following day, he visited the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre, where he met with residents including 101-year-old WWII Navy veteran Brenda Reid and 95-year-old Korean War Army veteran Harold Toth.
The visit highlighted innovative approaches to veteran care, such as a helmet art initiative that encourages veterans to transform military helmets into personal expressions of their service and resilience. According to the Office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, “The Duke’s engagement with these programs underscores his long-standing commitment to innovative approaches in veteran care. His advocacy continues to highlight how creative expression, community connection, and dedicated support systems work together to honor those who have served and ensure their ongoing wellbeing.”
Harry’s apology tour, if it can be called that, was met with good humor by Canadians and baseball fans alike. His willingness to poke fun at himself—especially about his thinning hair and the pressures of royal protocol—made him all the more relatable. “I was under duress,” he repeated more than once, making it clear that, while he may have worn the Dodgers cap, his heart was with the Blue Jays for the rest of the series. “I’m devastated the Blue Jays lost,” he said. “But go Jays.”
The World Series itself was a dramatic affair. The Toronto Blue Jays pushed the Dodgers to a decisive Game 7, held on November 1. In a nail-biting contest, the Dodgers ultimately prevailed after 11 innings, clinching the championship and sending their fans—and Meghan Markle—into a frenzy. For Canadian fans, the loss stung, but the team’s deep playoff run rekindled memories of past glory and sparked hope for the future.
Harry’s connection to Canada runs deep. After stepping back from royal duties in 2020, he and Meghan spent several months living in British Columbia. That history, combined with Canada’s role in the Commonwealth, made his apparent support for the Dodgers all the more surprising to some. But as Harry made clear, his loyalties are nuanced—and sometimes dictated by circumstance. “I was Blue Jays throughout,” he insisted, referring to the later games of the series.
The prince’s Toronto visit also served as a reminder of his ongoing commitment to veterans’ issues, a cause he has championed through initiatives like the Invictus Games. His interactions with Canadian service members and his participation in programs supporting their wellbeing underscored the depth of his engagement beyond the headlines and social media buzz.
As the dust settles on “hatgate,” it’s clear that Prince Harry’s apology—delivered with a wink and a Blue Jays cap—has gone a long way toward mending any bruised feelings north of the border. The episode stands as a lighthearted chapter in the ongoing story of a royal who, whether in a Dodgers cap or a Blue Jays hat, continues to bridge cultures and bring attention to causes that matter. For now, Harry may find it a bit tricky to walk the streets of Los Angeles, but in Canada, at least, he’s once again in fans’ good graces.
