In a surprise television appearance, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, delivered a pointed political joke aimed at former US President Donald Trump. The moment unfolded during a comedy sketch on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday, December 3.
A Cameo as a 'Christmas Prince'
The 41-year-old royal joined host Stephen Colbert in a fictional audition for a Hallmark-style holiday movie. Walking onto the stage of the historic Ed Sullivan Theater, Harry humorously remarked, "I genuinely thought this was the audition for the Gingerbread Prince saves Christmas in Nebraska." He then quickly pivoted to a more biting observation about American politics.
"Really? I heard you elected a king," Harry quipped, drawing laughter and applause from the studio audience. The line was a clear and playful jab at Donald Trump, who has often used royal imagery and comparisons in his public persona and social media posts.
Referencing Legal Battles and Ongoing Tensions
The Duke of Sussex didn't stop there. He further wove in a reference to recent real-world legal drama, stating, "I’ll record a self-tape, I’ll fly myself to an audition, settle a baseless lawsuit with the White House. All the things you people on TV do." When Colbert protested that he hadn't done those things, Harry retorted, "Maybe that’s why you’re canceled."
This exchange alluded to the $16 million settlement paid by CBS to Donald Trump. The settlement resolved a lawsuit concerning the network's editing of a 2024 interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.
The on-air banter highlights the ongoing, publicly tense relationship between Harry and the former president. Earlier this year, in February, Trump commented on the possibility of deporting Harry over past immigration disclosures, saying, "He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible," in a disparaging remark about Meghan Markle.
Further reports from a September state banquet at Windsor Castle indicated Trump praised King Charles for raising a "remarkable son," explicitly referring to Prince William while pointedly omitting any mention of Harry.
Life in California for the Sussexes
Since stepping back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have established their home in Montecito, California. They are raising their two children there: Prince Archie, aged 6, and Princess Lilibet, aged 4.
The Colbert appearance served as a rare, light-hearted foray into American late-night television for Harry, using humour to comment on the intersection of celebrity, politics, and the enduring transatlantic fascination with royalty.
