The stars of Mock the Week have joked about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's return to the UK. The couple stepped back as senior royals and began a new life in the US in 2020, before returning to live in Britain last month. Harry and Meghan are reportedly staying in the Cotswolds with their children, seven-year-old Archie and five-year-old Lilibet.
Panel jokes about the couple's return
The couple are the topic of conversation in a new episode of Mock the Week, set to air on TLC on Sunday (October 4). The show is hosted by Dara Ó Briain, joined by regular panellist Rhys James and a rotating line-up of guest comedians. In a clip from the upcoming episode, Dara says: "So, why has Meghan Markle been in the news recently?"
Janine Harouni said: "They're back!" before Dara replied: "They are, yes, they are back." Glenn Moore then quipped: "They couldn't have had a more hostile welcome if they'd come over in a dinghy."
Quips about documentary and anonymity
Taking a swipe at the couple's 2022 Netflix documentary, Ed Byrne added: "Nothing says a fresh start like returning to the country that you made a whole Netflix documentary about escaping from." Glenn noted: "They're trying to stay anonymous though," before quipping: "They're driving round the Cotswolds in a Fuel2U van."
This comes just days after the Duke of Sussex said that it feels "great" to be back in Britain after spending six years living in California. He told Canadian network CTV: "It's been great. It's been great to be back on British soil. The kids are happy in school and it gives me a chance to be able to really focus on the Invictus Games in Birmingham in July next year."
Public outing and strained family relations
The couple have also been spotted during their first public outing since returning to the UK. Harry and Meghan were seen on their way for a meal at a Cotswolds pub in recent days. A pub insider told The Sun: "Everyone here gets the royal treatment - it doesn't matter who you are. We're lucky to get lots of different people visiting us, and everyone is treated like a local. When they visited, Harry and Meghan just acted like locals."
Family relations were strained since the couple stepped back from their official royal duties. However, Harry and Meghan did visit the King and Queen in July, along with their children - the first time King Charles had seen his grandchildren in person in more than four years.
Security concerns after paparazzi incident
Security has been a point of tension for the couple, with recent arrangements coming under renewed scrutiny after a paparazzi incident near the school attended by Archie and Lilibet. International photographers were spotted lurking outside the school's gates, just weeks after Harry and Meghan switched their children's school over security concerns.
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: "The decision by photographers to conduct themselves in this way around a school is extraordinarily reckless. There is a world of difference between legitimate media activity and photographers walking the perimeter of a school, stopping to look into the grounds and monitoring children as they go about their day."
Mock the Week is available to stream on Discovery+.
