What was meant to be a night of celebration for the top players, coaches, and teams in the National Hockey League turned unexpectedly uncomfortable at the newly renovated Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, on June 26, 2024.
The NHL’s biggest stars gathered to honor the league's finest from the 2023-24 season. However, the event took a sour turn when Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, took the stage to present the Heart Memorial Trophy for the League’s Most Valuable Player. As he began his remarks, attendees started leaving, creating noticeable gaps and leaving the Duke visibly frustrated. He paused several times, glaring at the departing guests, and scolded them for their lack of respect.
“I cannot believe the rudeness and lack of courtesy being shown here tonight,” he admonished. “These players have worked tirelessly all season long and deserve your attention and appreciation, not this distasteful exodus.” Despite his pleas, the exodus continued, leaving many seats vacant. At one point, Prince Harry directly called out a group of attendees, demanding, “Have some bloody respect and sit back down.” The uncomfortable scene was broadcast live, stunning viewers at home.
Many took to social media, with some defending Prince Harry’s indignation and others mocking the situation. “I’ve never seen anything like that at a major award show before,” said hockey analyst Martin Byron. “For people to just get up and leave in the middle of a presenter’s remarks is incredibly disrespectful. You could see how upset Prince Harry was, and I completely understand his frustration.” On Twitter, one user, @heyoung, quipped, “LOL, Prince Harry lecturing people about respect while the entire crowd leaves his speech is Peak comedy. Wonder if he’s going to demand an apology from the NHL for this travesty.”
The reason behind the mass exodus was unclear, though some speculated it was due to the ceremony running behind schedule, with attendees eager to get to post-awards parties. Regardless of the motivations, the departures left Prince Harry fuming. “I realize you may all have somewhere else to be, but these athletes have earned your attention and respect tonight,” he scolded. “The least you could do is sit through the entire ceremony to honor their achievements.” Despite his objections, the flow of people heading for the exits continued. By the time he concluded his remarks and handed off the Heart Trophy, large portions of the arena were empty. The broadcast cut to commercial, leaving viewers bewildered and amused.
Some defended Prince Harry’s passion, arguing that the lack of audience engagement was disrespectful to the award recipients. Others found his angry reaction over the top. “I get that Harry was trying to stand up for the players,” said hockey fan Samantha Rodriguez, “but the way he went off on the crowd was just bizarre. It’s not like they were booing or heckling; they were just leaving to go party. He needs to lighten up a bit.”
The awkward moment threatened to overshadow the actual award winners, leaving many to wonder if the ceremony would be remembered more for Prince Harry’s outburst than the honorees’ achievements. As the broadcast resumed, the prince appeared more composed, but the image of him scolding a half-empty arena will likely be the lasting memory of the 2024 NHL Awards. Whether the royal family will invite Prince Harry back to future ceremonies remains to be seen. If given another opportunity, he’ll no doubt hope for a more engaged audience that doesn’t start heading for the exits during his remarks.
