Royal Fans Outraged Over Prince Harry’s Unexpected New Alias During Aspen Polo Match
The backlash erupted this week after the Duke of Sussex was publicly introduced by name, a move closely associated with William.
Prince Harry has found himself at the center of yet another fresh controversy after royal fans accused him of stealing his brother Prince William’s title. The backlash erupted this week when the Duke of Sussex was publicly introduced with a name closely associated with his elder brother. It prompted confusion and anger among royal watchers who firmly believe this title belongs to William alone.
The incident took place in Aspen, Colorado, during the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship. Harry was competing in the game as a part of the Aspen Valley Polo Cup team. Instead of introducing him as ‘the Duke of Sussex’, the commentator instead called him “Harry Wales.” He said, “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, please welcome onto the podium the runners-up of the 2025 St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship. Please give it up for Aspen Valley Polo Cup: Harry Wales, Grant Ganzi, and Nic Roldan.” The use of ‘Wales’ caused an immediate stir among the public, as the designation has always been associated with Prince William.
Royal fans reacted online quickly. They began to question why Harry was using a name linked to William and his family, including Kate Middleton and their three kids. One user on X wrote, “Harry Wales’ Did I just hear that correctly? I thought it was Sussex???” Another tweeted, “Whaaaat??!! He isn't Prince William's son! The Prince of Wales is William! Harry hasn't been Wales since he was given the new Titles by HMTLQ on his wedding day with the main being the Duke of Sussex... So he's going by his old name now instead of sharing Sussex with his kids?!”
While expressing a similar kind of disbelief, another handle posted, “Harry Wales?? Is he pretending he’s back at Eton or something??” and “WTF is going on?!?! Harry Wales?!? What happened to Sussex?!?!” One more account asked, “Is he practising for when he loses his title?” One user just merely remarked, “There is NO Harry Wales, just George, Charlotte & Louis, William & Catherine...is he looking for a fight?”
Despite the outrage, some viewers offered a more measured explanation. One person expressed, “Players register for these polo matches. The name they register with IS the name they are announced as during the match. The announcers have records of the players names, their national handicap and their position. Harry registered himself as Harry Wales..” This mishap reignited sensitivities around royal titles, identity, and the ever-complicated dynamics between the royal siblings.
This incident surfaced against the backdrop of Harry’s strained bonds with the rest of the royal family. In 2020, his decision to step back from royal duties alongside his wife, Meghan Markle, began to cause friction in the monarchy. What followed were bombshell interviews, the release of Harry’s memoir with shocking allegations, and their unfiltered Netflix documentary, which further soured family bonds. However, there were signs of reconciliation between King Charles and Harry, who briefly met at Clarence House in September for the first time in 19 months.
