LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry went to Toronto for events marking the end of the First World War and found himself on an apology tour for insulting Canadians.
In a speech to a military charity on Thursday evening, the Duke of Sussex again tried to address the “blue-hatted elephant in the room”. He was referring to his widely ridiculous choice to wear a Los Angeles Dodgers cap during a World Series game in Los Angeles against the Toronto Blue Jays.
It was seen as a major snub in Canada, a British Commonwealth country where his father, King Charles III, is head of state. He was criticized on social media in the Great White North.
Harry apologized for the blunder and tried to put a humorous spin on the incident which he dubbed ‘Hat Gate’.
“When you’re missing a lot of hair on top and you’re under spotlights, you take every hat available,” he joked in an interview with Canadian broadcaster CTV.
He then put on a Blue Jays cap that happened to be an arm’s length away.
The incident was seen by some as a test of his loyalty between his birthplace and his adopted home in the US. The prince and his wife, Meghan, stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and briefly moved to Canada before settling in California.
Harry and Meghan’s appearance in Game 4 of the series – that LA won in the end in seven games — also angered some Dodgers fans who were upset about their top spot behind home plate.
The couple sat front row – in front of LA royalty – Dodgers great Sandy Koufax and LA Laker star Magic Johnsonwho is co-owner of the team.
Harry said the couple, who live about an hour west of Los Angeles in the upscale coastal enclave of Montecito, were invited to the game by the team owner.
Feeling “under duress,” he wore the hat as a polite gesture, something he told the Toronto audience he thought Canadians — known for their politeness — would support.
Harry was in Canada for two days of events and gatherings ahead of Remembrance Day on Tuesday, which honors armed forces personnel who died in the line of duty.
“I’m really sorry I’m wearing a Dodgers cap,” he said to applause at a dinner for the True Patriot Love Foundation, a charity for Canadian military personnel and veterans.
He then played up his connections to the country, including the fact that his actor wife — before they married and when she was known as Meghan Markle — lived in Toronto for so long filming the show “Suits” that many thought she was Canadian.
“Hopefully, as a native Californian, you can forgive her for her Dodger loyalty, even if it’s just for one night,” he said. “But all jokes aside, this city has always meant a lot to me – you gave me a woman.”
Harry insisted he was rooting for the Jays for the final three games of the series — an admission he told CTV could make his return to LA more difficult.
