In a move that has reignited transatlantic tensions, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, made a surprise late-night television appearance in the United States where he took a pointed swipe at former President Donald Trump. The unexpected cameo occurred just hours after his royal relatives hosted a major diplomatic event at Windsor Castle.
Harry's Late-Night Political Prank
The Duke featured in a comedy sketch on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, broadcast in the early hours of Thursday morning, UK time. In the pre-recorded segment, Harry portrayed himself auditioning for a fictional Hallmark film titled "Gingerbread Christmas Prince saves Christmas in Nebraska."
When Colbert questioned why a real prince would want to star in such movies, Harry quipped: “You Americans are obsessed with Christmas movies, and you’re clearly obsessed with royalty, so why not?” The most politically charged moment came when the Duke, strolling around the studio set, joked that he had got lost while "looking for the audition, and America had elected a king." This remark was widely interpreted as a reference to the "No Kings" protests that targeted the Trump administration.
The appearance was first teased in a promotional video featuring a viral soundbite from The Great British Bake Off. It marks a fresh chapter in the ongoing public friction between the Sussexes and the former US President.
A Night of Contrasting Royal Duties
Harry's foray into American late-night comedy stood in stark contrast to the formal duties undertaken by the rest of the Royal Family on Wednesday evening. While he was filming the skit, King Charles III hosted German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for a white-tie state banquet at Windsor Castle.
The event saw senior royals out in full regalia. The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, made a particularly striking impression. She dazzled in a floor-length, purple-blue sequinned gown by Jenny Packham, which featured an asymmetric neckline and cape shoulder detail.
For the occasion, Kate debuted a significant piece of jewellery: Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara. The diamond and ruby tiara, designed by Victoria's German-born husband, Prince Albert in 1853, was a diplomatic nod to the evening's guests. Her ensemble was completed with the late Queen Elizabeth II's earrings, the Royal Family Order, and the GCVO Sash and Star.
Analysis: Diverging Paths and Diplomatic Waves
The timing of the two events underscores the vastly different paths Prince Harry and the working members of the Royal Family are now on. One branch was engaged in high-level state diplomacy, reinforcing the UK's international relationships through traditional pomp and carefully chosen symbolism.
The other, residing in California, was engaging directly with American popular culture and its political discourse. Harry's joke, while delivered in a comedic setting, is likely to be seen as a deliberate provocation by Donald Trump and his supporters, potentially complicating the Sussexes' position in the US during a volatile election cycle.
For the monarchy, the juxtaposition highlights a continuing challenge: managing the global headlines generated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's independent actions while maintaining the dignity and neutrality of the Crown. The state banquet at Windsor Castle was a textbook example of royal soft power, an image now competing in the news cycle with a prince's joke on a chat show sofa.
