The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has shared a light-hearted clip of her husband, Prince Harry, recreating a viral Great British Bake Off meme. The video, filmed for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, was posted on her Instagram as she promotes her new Netflix holiday special.
Harry and Colbert's Bake Off Lip-Sync
In the segment, which aired on Thursday night, the Duke of Sussex and host Stephen Colbert mimed the now-famous exchange from a December 2023 Christmas special of the Channel 4 show. The original moment featured presenter Alison Hammond, with her distinctive Brummie accent, mishearing contestant Mark Lutton's Northern Irish reply.
Harry took on the role of Hammond, who asked Lutton: 'If you was treated like a king for the day, what would you want me to do for ya?' Colbert mouthed Lutton's response of 'Bake for me probably', which Hammond infamously misheard as 'Beg'. The humorous misunderstanding became an internet sensation last year.
A Serious Family Health Crisis Unfolds
The playful social media post comes amid starkly contrasting personal news. Meghan's 81-year-old father, Thomas Markle, is currently in intensive care in a hospital in the Philippines after undergoing emergency surgery.
According to family statements, Mr Markle was rushed to hospital on Tuesday after falling gravely ill at home. He underwent approximately three hours of surgery on Wednesday and remains in the ICU, facing a second procedure to remove a blood clot. His son, Thomas Markle Jr, described his father's life as being in 'imminent danger'.
Thomas Markle has been estranged from his daughter since before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, which he was unable to attend due to heart attacks. He suffered a major stroke in 2022 and has become increasingly frail. His children have publicly appealed for Meghan to show compassion and reach out to their father during this critical time.
Harry's Comedy Sketches and Political Jabs
Harry's appearance on Colbert's show extended beyond the meme recreation. In a pre-taped comedy sketch, he played himself auditioning to become a Hallmark-style 'Christmas prince'. When Colbert questioned why a real prince would want such a role, Harry quipped: 'You Americans are obsessed with Christmas movies, and you're clearly obsessed with royalty, so why not?'
The Duke also made pointed jokes about US politics. Pushing back on Colbert's denial of an American 'obsession' with royalty, Harry retorted: 'Really? I hear you elected a king,' in an apparent reference to former President Donald Trump. He later joked about settling 'a baseless lawsuit with the White House' to get a part, nodding to CBS's recent legal settlement with Mr Trump.
The week has presented a jarring juxtaposition for the Sussexes: a carefully managed foray into light entertainment and brand promotion, set against a backdrop of acute family medical drama unfolding thousands of miles away. Meghan's new Netflix special, 'With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration', released on the same day as her father's surgery, emphasises themes of family, love, and togetherness, even as her own familial rift remains profoundly unresolved.
