Prince Harry drew laughter from a room of business leaders in Los Angeles by comparing his upbringing in the Royal Family to the fictional world of the hit television series Downton Abbey.
A Surprise Speaker's Witty Remarks
The Duke of Sussex served as a surprise guest speaker at a lunch hosted by the British American Business Council (BABC) on Friday. The event, held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, celebrated the 'deeply personal' relationship between the UK and the USA and was attended by over 200 business figures.
Harry, 41, seized the opportunity to make a series of light-hearted jibes. He joked about US independence and recalled having to wear kilts as a youngster. His most pointed quip came as the creator of Downton Abbey, Lord Julian Fellowes, was being honoured at the same event.
'People sometimes ask if growing up with the Royal family was a bit like Julian's Downton Abbey,' Harry said. 'Yeah, but only one of those worlds is filled with drama, intrigue, elaborate dinners, marriages to Americans, and the other is a TV show.'
Meghan Markle's Personal Outreach
The humorous event in California coincided with a serious personal development for the Duchess of Sussex. It has been confirmed that Meghan Markle has reached out to her father, Thomas Markle, following his life-saving surgery.
The 81-year-old, who has been estranged from his daughter since her wedding to Prince Harry, underwent a three-hour operation in the Philippines on Wednesday. The surgery to amputate his leg was necessary after a blood clot cut off circulation, causing the limb to turn black.
A spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex stated: 'I can confirm she [Meghan] has reached out to her father.' No further details about the contact were released. According to reports, Meghan first learned of her father's health crisis by reading about it in the news, after which she instructed aides to verify the information.
Reflecting on the 'Special Relationship'
Back at the BABC luncheon, Prince Harry also reflected on the serious bond between the US and the UK. He described it as a 'special' and 'real' relationship that was deeply personal to him, not only because of his life in America but due to the American servicemen and women he served alongside in Afghanistan.
Marking 250 years of US independence, he chose to focus on how a connection once defined by 'historic tensions' had evolved into one of the world's 'closest partnerships'. He told The Telegraph that being British was not about where you 'stand, but what you stand for.'
His speech also included playful banter about the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across North America. He joked about British fans landing on US soil and 'drinking breweries dry', to the delight of brands like Budweiser and Coors.
Remarking on the potential qualification of home nations, he quipped: 'The British are coming, hungry for victory and they're thirsty.' He also described the qualification of both Scotland and England as a potential 'Christmas miracle', joking about extended pub hours during the tournament.
The Duke even retold a joke about his ancestor, King George III, who lost the American colonies, noting he didn't take the independence celebration 'personally'.
