Afua Hagan: Harry and Meghan’s Dodgers hats ignite Canadian backlash

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle look on during eighth inning Game 4 World Series playoff MLB baseball action between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Afua Hagan is a contributor to CTVNews.ca, focusing on the Royal Family. Based in London and Accra, Hagan is a regular commentator on the royals across a variety of international outlets, and is a leading voice on diversity in Britain.

As someone who reports on the royals, I know how even small gestures can carry a lot of meaning. People really care about symbols, identity, and pride in their nation, and they also really care about the royals.

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle showed up at Game 4 of the 2025 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays wearing matching Dodgers hats, it was bound to spark some reactions and raised eyebrows.

Let’s not ignore this: even though Harry and Meghan no longer carry out regular royal responsibilities, Harry is still in the line of succession to the Canadian throne. Canada is a constitutional monarchy, and with his father King Charles III serving as its current monarch, this connection is still significant for many Canadians.

A royal couple, even one that isn’t part of the working royals, wearing merchandise linked to an American baseball team while attending a high-profile international event is bound to catch attention. Toronto, especially during a World Series involving its own Blue Jays, takes tremendous pride in its team. When prominent royal figures are seen wearing an American team’s cap, it might be taken as an insult or come across as inconsiderate.

As well as the constitutional and Commonwealth connection with Canada, both Harry and Meghan have spent a lot of time in Toronto. Meghan filmed the series Suits there, and they made their first public outing together there in September 2017 at the Invictus Games.

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The media and fans in Toronto did not take this lightly. Many were pretty ticked off, saying it takes away from the monarchy’s symbolic importance in Canada or shows disrespect for loyalty towards the country. On Reddit, in comments, and all over social media, fans shared heated opinions. Some saw the move as rude even saying Harry being a Royal Family member owed Canada more respect.

“Harry should be cheering for Canada, a Commonwealth Country!” declared one Instagram user. A second said, “Not shocked with Meghan but disappointed with Harry... should be cheering on the Commonwealth country.” Another piped up: “They should have a Blue Jay hat on! Meghan worked in Canada, and Harry was part of the Commonwealth!”

One Instagram user declared, “Meghan and Harry: You are not welcome to Canada anymore,” while another suggested that “They could have split the difference. She wears an LA and he wears a Blue Jay hat. And don’t sit on the front row.”

On the flip side, a lot of people thought all the criticism was ridiculous. While Meghan spent time in Toronto while filming Suits and has even been seen cheering for the Blue Jays before, her ties to Los Angeles and her loyalty to the Dodgers over the years are also perfectly legitimate reasons for her to be sporting Dodgers merchandise. Some view it as a simple show of personal fandom and not as any kind of political message.

“Harry lives in California. Married to a local. Father to locals. This is silly. Lol,” pointed out one fan on Instagram, while another exclaimed, “Harry’s just living his best life and I’m here for it!”

Another appealed for people to “Stop creating non existent fights” given that they both live in L.A.

Looking at it through the lens of traditional royal etiquette, some might see it as a minor mishap on the part of Harry and Meghan. Royals are expected to stay neutral in situations tied to strong national or local pride. In Canada, the monarchy remains part of the constitutional framework, and things like symbols carry weight. Even a simple hat can deliver a message.

Times, however, are not what they were. Modern royals juggle official roles and their private lives, while maintaining their global image. For Harry and Meghan, who have taken on a more independent identity, wearing a Dodgers cap merely highlights their connection to Los Angeles or reflects a personal taste. It says less about rejecting Canada or its supporters and more about their individuality.

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This situation reflects broader struggles: old traditions clashing with personal choices, national expectations conflicting with individual freedom, and the balance between public roles and private lives. Royals like Harry and Meghan walk a fine line between these realms. Even though their roles as working royals have changed, people still watch their symbolic influence in countries where the monarchy holds legal significance.

Being a fan often ties to one’s identity. So, when former senior royals are seen wearing an American team’s gear when their opponent is Canadian, it can spark debates about loyalty, belonging, and identity.

I see this more as a symbolic mistake than a serious violation, but they must also understand that to a lot of Canadians, especially those in Toronto, their choice of hat seemed out of place and was a missed chance to show support to a Canadian team.

While many may see it as just a baseball cap, in the land where the Crown still holds legal and cultural presence, no gesture is truly small. For Canadians watching, the hat told a story. And for the royals, it’s a reminder that public figures can never fully slip out of the symbolic spotlight.

More from Afua Hagan:

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• The Epstein email makes Prince Andrew’s title impossible to defend
• 5 key takeaways from Eugene Levy’s interview with Prince William