Prince Harry has publicly apologized to Canada after facing playful criticism for wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers cap to a World Series game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Duke of Sussex joked that he was “under duress” when he wore the hat, creating a lighthearted international incident now being called “hatgate.”
The Incident That Started “Hatgate”
On October 28, 2025, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, attended Game 4 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The couple sat in premium front-row seats behind the home plate area, positioned ahead of Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax and basketball star Magic Johnson. Both Harry and Meghan wore bright blue Los Angeles Dodgers caps during the game.
The visual of the British prince, whose father King Charles III is Canada’s head of state, supporting an American team over Canada’s only MLB team quickly sparked reactions. Canadian fans and social media users expressed their disappointment, viewing his choice of headwear as a betrayal of Commonwealth allegiance. This reaction led to the creation of the term “hatgate” to describe the minor controversy.
Harry’s Official Apology in Canada
Prince Harry addressed the hat controversy directly during his visit to Toronto on November 6, 2025. While in Canada for events related to Remembrance Day, he spoke with CTV News about the incident.
“Firstly, I’d like to apologize to Canada for wearing it,” Harry stated. “Secondly, I was under duress. There wasn’t much choice.”
The prince explained that the couple had been invited to the game by the Dodgers’ owner himself, and he felt wearing the hat was the polite thing to do given the circumstances. He also offered a more personal reason for his choice of headwear, joking that “when you’re missing a lot of hair on top and you’re sitting under floodlights, you’ll take any hat that’s available.”
During the same interview, Harry reached for a Toronto Blue Jays cap and put it on, promising: “I’m gonna wear this from now on, to make sure I don’t make any more of those mistakes.”
The Aftermath and Canadian Response
Prince Harry further addressed “hatgate” during a speech at a dinner for the True Patriot Love Foundation, a Canadian charity that supports military members and veterans. He referred to the situation as the “blue-hatted elephant in the room” and formally apologized to attendees.
“I am truly sorry for wearing a Dodgers cap,” he told the audience, which responded with applause.
He also defended his wife’s loyalty to the Dodgers, noting that as a native Californian, her support for the team was understandable. Harry humorously referenced his connection to Canada, stating “this city has always meant a great deal to me – you provided me a wife,” referring to Meghan’s years living in Toronto while filming the television series “Suits.”
Despite wearing Dodgers gear at the game, Harry claimed he had actually supported the Blue Jays throughout the remainder of the World Series, which the Dodgers ultimately won in seven games. He joked that this admission would “make my return to Los Angeles more difficult.”
Purpose of Harry’s Canadian Visit
Prince Harry’s trip to Canada from November 5-6, 2025 was primarily for charitable engagements related to military veterans, not baseball diplomacy. His activities included meeting with soldiers from the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada and the Royal Regiment of Canada, and visiting the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre in Toronto.
At Sunnybrook, he met with 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, including a program where veterans transform military helmets into artistic expressions of their service experiences.
The Office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex noted that Harry’s engagement with these programs underscored his “long-standing commitment to innovative approaches in veteran care” and how “creative expression, community connection, and dedicated support systems work together to honor those who have served.”
Despite the lighthearted attention given to “hatgate,” Prince Harry’s visit primarily focused on honoring Canadian military service members and supporting their wellbeing.
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Credits: Sky News, Vanity Fair, ESPN
