Prince Harry Takes a Shot at Trump During Awkward ‘Late Show’ Skit with Stephen Colbert
Prince Harry stirred the crowd during an unusual appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, taking a subtle jab at former President Donald Trump while poking fun at Americans’ fascination with the royals.
The Duke of Sussex interrupted Colbert’s monologue at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City on Wednesday night, which focused on the plethora of Christmas-themed movies featuring royalty—just hours after news broke that Harry’s father-in-law, Thomas Markle, was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.
“I genuinely thought this was the audition for The Gingerbread Prince Saves Christmas in Nebraska,” Harry quipped as he stepped onto the stage. He joked about considering acting, citing Americans’ obsession with holiday movies and royalty.
Colbert dismissed the claim, which set Harry up for a scripted comeback: “Really? I heard you elected a king,” Harry said, referencing Trump without naming him directly. The audience responded with boos and groans, which Colbert acknowledged: “That’s a fair point…he’s got a point.”
Harry continued by highlighting the absurdity of dramatizing his royal lineage: “And often making such a big deal about my great, great, great, great, great, great-grandfather George III,” referring to the British monarch during the American Revolution.
He later included a veiled dig at Trump while joking about his Hallmark-style audition for Colbert’s fictional Christmas movie: “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.”
Colbert responded, “Hey, Harry, I didn’t do any of those things.” Harry fired back, “Maybe that’s why you’re canceled,” drawing laughs from the audience.
The reference to Trump comes amid a long history of tension between the former U.S. president and Harry. Earlier this year, Trump decided against deporting Harry over alleged visa issues, despite accusations of past illegal drug use. Trump also made a subtle jab at Harry during a speech at Windsor Castle, praising Prince William while omitting his younger brother.
The segment ended with an awkwardly staged embrace between Colbert and Harry, as fake snow fell around them.
Meanwhile, Harry’s father-in-law, Thomas Markle, 81, underwent a three-hour surgery and was admitted to intensive care in the Philippines after a sudden illness. Reports indicate he will require a second procedure to remove a blood clot. Harry’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., asked the public to keep his father in their thoughts, calling the recovery “grueling” and expressing hope that Meghan Markle would show compassion during this critical time.
