Not since Queen Elizabeth II parachuted out of a plane with James Bond at the 2012 London Olympics have the royal family been seen to have fun on live television. Prince Harry just showed off his acting chops and comedic timing on a special Christmas cameo on Stephen Colbert’s late-night talk show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The bit starts with Stephen poking fun at Hallmark movies with their sensational royal-themed Christmas films, such as A Royal Icing Christmas, A Christmas Castle Proposal, and The Crown Prince of Christmas. He says that these films give people the “unrealistic expectation that during the holiday season they’re just going to bump into a prince at their job”, just as Prince Harry comes out on stage.
Stephen addresses the Duke of Sussex by his full name: Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales-Sussex. Harry quips that he’s there to audition for The Gingerbread Prince Saves Christmas in Nebraska.
When he lists his skills beyond being an actual prince, Harry says he can ride a horse and fly a helicopter, and fly a horse in a helicopter (we can’t verify that), but Stephen says that won’t cut it.
“This is all about who you know,” says Stephen. “Do you have a personal connection to any famous TV actresses?”
“I mean, I might know one,” Harry responds.
During their scripted banter on stage, Harry teases Stephen (and the viewers at home) that they are obsessed with royals (one audience member yells, “We are!”) and even “elected” a King. Of course, referring to President Donald Trump, who was the focus of the recent “No Kings” protests and rallies across the United States.
He also goes on to say that they are obsessed with his “great great great great great great grandfather George III”, who was king when the Americans fought and won the American War of Independence. To which Stephen replies, “Well, he was kind of a jerk.” He did tax them without allowing representation…
He again pokes fun at Donald Trump by insisting that he would do anything for the role, even “settle a baseless lawsuit with the White House, all the things you people in TV do.” Referring to CBS’s settlement with the president. Its parent company, Paramount Global, agreed to pay $16 million USD to settle a legal dispute with the US President regarding a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice-President Kamala Harris. However, Stephen points out that he wasn’t part of that. To which Harry replies, “Maybe that’s why you’re cancelled.”
They also get into Christmas traditions, but “putting on jumpers” and “pulling crackers” don’t make it across the Trans-Atlantic divide.
Despite that, Stephen Colbert proclaims Prince Harry to be “The Official Late Show Prince of Christmas”. And Harry signs off with a “Happy Christmas, y’all.”
This isn’t Harry’s first time on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert; he was a major guest in 2023 following the release of his memoir Spare. And ahead of his appearance on the Christmas show, he was in a fun skit about being a king. Watch below.
