LONDON — LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry went to Toronto for occasions marking the tip of World Battle I and located himself on an apology tour for offending Canadians.

Talking to a army charity on Thursday night time, the Duke of Sussex sought to as soon as once more tackle the “blue-hatted elephant within the room.” He was referring to his extensively ridiculed option to put on a Los Angeles Dodgers cap at a World Collection recreation in Los Angeles towards the Toronto Blue Jays.

It was seen as a significant snub in Canada, a British Commonwealth nation, the place his father, King Charles III, is the pinnacle of state. He was blasted on social media within the Nice White North.

Harry apologized for the blunder and tried to place a humorous spin on the incident he known as “Hat Gate.”

“Once you’re lacking quite a lot of hair on high, and also you’re sitting beneath floodlights, you’ll take any hat that’s out there,” he joked in an interview with Canadian broadcaster CTV.

He then donned a Blue Jays cap that occurred to be an arm’s size away.

The incident was perceived by some as a take a look at of his allegiance between his birthplace and his adopted dwelling within the U.S. The prince and his spouse, Meghan, stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and moved to Canada briefly earlier than settling in California.

The looks of Harry and Meghan at Sport 4 of the collection — that LA went on to win in seven video games — additionally rankled some Dodgers followers who have been upset at their prime place behind dwelling plate.

The couple sat within the first row – in entrance of LA royalty — Dodgers nice Sandy Koufax and LA Laker star Magic Johnson, who is part proprietor of the crew.

Harry mentioned the couple, who reside about an hour west of Los Angeles within the ritzy coastal enclave of Montecito, had been invited to the sport by the crew proprietor.

He felt “beneath duress” and wore the hat as a well mannered gesture, one thing he informed the Toronto viewers that he thought Canadians — identified for his or her civility — would help.

Harry was in Canada for 2 days of occasions and conferences upfront of Remembrance Day on Tuesday that honors armed forces members who died within the line of responsibility.

“I’m actually sorry for carrying a Dodgers cap,” he mentioned to applause at a dinner for the True Patriot Love Basis, a charity for Canadian service members and veterans.

He then performed up his connections to the nation, together with the truth that his actor spouse — earlier than they married and when she was often called Meghan Markle — lived so lengthy in Toronto filming the present “Fits” that many thought she was Canadian.

“Hopefully you may forgive her as a local Californian for her Dodger’s loyalty, even when for only one night,” he mentioned. “However all jokes apart, this metropolis has all the time meant a fantastic deal to me — you offered me a spouse.”

Harry insisted that he was rooting for the Jays for the ultimate three video games of the collection — an admission that he informed CTV may make his return to LA tougher.