Late-Night Audience Reacts Strongly to Prince Harry’s Political Quip

Prince Harry made an unexpected appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, but one of his jokes — particularly a remark involving kings — didn’t sit well with everyone in the studio audience. As Harry continues to carve out a new path following his departure from royal life, he and Meghan Markle remain active through a range of business ventures, including their Netflix partnership, which was renewed earlier this summer. Meghan recently added to that portfolio with the release of a holiday-themed episode of her polarizing lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan.

During the December 3 episode of Colbert’s show, the Duke of Sussex surprised viewers by joining a scripted comedy segment centered on Christmas movies. When Colbert asked why he was suddenly appearing at the Ed Sullivan Theater, Harry joked that he believed he was there to audition for a fictional film titled The Gingerbread Prince Saves Christmas in Nebraska.

Colbert questioned why Harry would want to star in a holiday movie at all, prompting the prince to quip that Americans seem fascinated by both Christmas films and royalty — making the audition seem reasonable in his mind.

The tone shifted, however, when Harry delivered a line that quickly stirred the crowd. After Colbert insisted Americans aren’t obsessed with royalty, Harry shot back, “Really? I heard you elected a king,” referencing Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election. The comment triggered loud boos from the audience.

Colbert responded by calling the remark a “fair point” before jokingly labeling Harry’s ancestor, King George III, a “jerk,” helping defuse the tension and move the segment forward.

The comedy bit continued with Harry declaring his determination to land a role in a Hallmark-style Christmas movie. He listed skills such as horseback riding and helicopter piloting as qualifications, though Colbert dismissed them as unlikely to help in a festive film audition.

Though momentarily discouraged, Harry regained the audience’s favor with a jab at CBS’s parent company, Paramount, over its legal settlement with Trump — a remark that drew enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.

The sketch concluded with playful physical comedy between Colbert and Harry after the prince jokingly asked, “Isn’t there a prince standing in front of you right now?” Colbert then announced that Harry had officially “won” the role, revealing the entire exchange had been a test of his ability to handle the responsibilities of the part.

Colbert, who has spent years openly criticizing Trump on The Late Show, has remained outspoken despite the show’s announced cancellation. Paramount has cited financial reasons for ending the program, though critics have accused the company of political motivations and aligning with Trump. With The Late Show set to conclude in May 2026, Colbert appears undeterred, continuing his commentary while the show remains one of the highest-rated late-night programs on television.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have also been targets of Trump’s criticism in the past. Given Trump’s frequent attacks on late-night hosts, it wouldn’t be surprising if Harry finds himself on the receiving end of further criticism following this high-profile appearance.