As we all know, the NHL Draft is a prestigious event that takes place every June, where the top hockey prospects from around the world get selected by NHL teams. It’s typically a formal affair held at a fancy venue, attracting the who's who of the hockey and business world. This year, however, there was a twist that turned the event into a spectacle.
Rumor has it that Céline Dion was set to perform the Canadian national anthem at this year’s draft in her hometown of Montreal. Céline was beyond excited to represent her country in front of the hockey world. She spent weeks perfecting her rendition of "O Canada" and had her outfit all ready to go. But just a few days before the big event, word got out that Prince Harry, who had recently moved to Canada, wanted to crash the party and sit in the exclusive owners’ box with the NHL brass.
Céline and Harry have a somewhat strained relationship, stemming from an argument they had years ago at a charity event in London. The details of that altercation are murky, but it’s clear that their paths have not crossed since. So when Céline found out Harry planned to show up uninvited to her moment to shine, she was livid. According to my inside sources, she called the NHL immediately and threatened to back out of her performance if they allowed Harry in. The league was in a panic; they couldn’t afford to lose Céline, a national treasure, but they also didn’t want to disrespect a prince.
After frantic back-and-forth discussions, they reached a compromise: Harry could attend, but he would have to sit in the nosebleed section with the regular fans, not in the exclusive owners' box as he desired. Stubborn as ever, Harry refused those terms, demanding to sit where he wanted or he wouldn’t show up at all. Emotions were running high on both sides.
On draft day, when Harry showed up anyway and tried to waltz into the owners’ box, an irate Céline was waiting for him. Eyewitnesses report that she stormed over, got right in his face, and screamed, “You are not welcome here! I told them not to let you in!” Security found themselves caught in the middle, unsure of whose side to take in this messy celebrity feud. That’s when Céline shouted at the guards, “If he doesn’t leave right now, then I’m leaving, and there will be no national anthem!”
Harry tried to stand his ground, but he was heavily outnumbered. Not wanting to ruin Céline’s moment or cause a national scandal, security had no choice but to remove the prince from the arena. They literally had to drag him out, kicking and screaming, as the poor guy just wanted to watch some hockey.
In the end, Céline got her way and delivered a show-stopping rendition of "O Canada" that brought the entire building to its feet. The next day, pictures and videos of Harry’s less-than-dignified exit went viral online, with social media users relentlessly mocking him as #PrinceJetsThrownOut started trending worldwide. Meanwhile, Céline was hailed as a hero for standing up to royalty and protecting her country’s honor. Her popularity in Canada grew even larger.
As for Harry, it’s likely this is an experience he’s desperately trying to live down. The royal family was probably less than thrilled by his behavior, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have kept a relatively low profile in Canada ever since, likely hoping people would forget about this embarrassing scandal.
However, I have a feeling this NHL Draft drama between Céline Dion and Prince Harry will go down as one of the most legendary celebrity feuds in sports history. Only time will tell if these two ever manage to patch things up.
