Imagine partying with Prince Harry and ending up in a pool with him! Back in August 2012, that’s exactly what happened in Las Vegas when swimmer Ryan Lochte bumped into the Prince. Fresh off winning two Olympic golds in London, Lochte was ready to celebrate in Sin City, while Harry, after being the UK’s Olympic ambassador, was also looking to unwind.
The night kicked off with Harry going almost unnoticed at a party with J-Lo, but things took a turn when he spotted Lochte at the Wynn hotel. Lochte was thrilled to meet the young royal, and before they knew it, they were racing each other in the pool, fully clothed, with partygoers cheering them on.
Lochte recalls that Harry impressed everyone with his swimming form, but the Olympian swimmer claimed victory. After the spontaneous swim race, they eventually parted ways, with both heading back to their friends.
Sadly, the wild night soon turned sour for Harry. The next morning, he woke up to nude photos of himself plastered across tabloids worldwide, taken secretly at a VIP suite party later that evening. Reflecting on the incident in his autobiography, Harry described the overwhelming guilt and embarrassment that followed, knowing the scandal would haunt him indefinitely.
Despite the headline-grabbing scandal, Lochte spoke fondly of the Prince, calling him “a good guy” and expressing regret over how the situation unfolded. It was a one-time meeting, but one that neither would likely forget anytime soon. While the incident left Harry red-faced, Lochte moved on swiftly, diving back into his swimming career and TV ventures.
This unexpected night in Vegas just goes to show that what happens there doesn’t always stay there–especially when royalty is involved!