Prince Harry has transformed family anecdotes into public entertainment, drawing laughter at a Los Angeles business luncheon and sparking reactions on late-night television. His recent remarks highlight ongoing tensions with the royal family amid King Charles’s health challenges.
More Drama Than Downton Abbey
At the British American Business Council Los Angeles’ 65th Christmas Luncheon, the Duke of Sussex compared his royal upbringing to the television series Downton Abbey. He noted frequent questions about whether palace life resembled the show, then described it as filled with drama, intrigue, elaborate dinners, and marriages to Americans—a reference to his wife, Meghan Markle. Harry pointed out that only one of those is fictional, suggesting real royal life exceeds scripted tales. The audience responded with laughter and applause, viewing the comments as witty self-awareness rather than direct criticism of the King.
Late-Night Political Commentary
Days later, Harry made a surprise onstage appearance during Stephen Colbert’s monologue on The Late Show in New York. He played into American obsessions with Christmas movies and the British monarchy, positioning himself as both participant and observer in royal fame. The mood shifted when he quipped to Colbert, “Really? I hear you elected a king,” targeting President Donald Trump. Parts of the studio audience booed and gasped, prompting Colbert to intervene. Harry followed with a historical twist, joking about Americans’ emphasis on his ancestor King George III during the 1776 Revolution while accepting a modern “king” in politics. He has called celebrating U.S. Independence Day bizarre as George III’s descendant, framing his California life as personal liberation from royal constraints.
King Charles’s Lingering Pain
Royal analysts indicate King Charles remains deeply affected by Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare, which detailed personal grievances involving the monarch and Queen Camilla. Experts describe potential moves like a surname change as deeply hurtful rejections. Charles, undergoing cancer treatment since early 2024, has maintained a positive outlook, attending select duties and even joking about his health publicly. No official Palace response has addressed Harry’s recent remarks, adhering to the “never complain, never explain” policy. Reactions surface through anonymous briefings.
Growing Distance with Family
Throughout 2025, reports show Charles intentionally avoiding closer contact with Harry to limit further strain, with reconciliation deemed unlikely soon. Harry reportedly learned of one of his father’s hospital stays via media, not family channels. Ties with Prince William hit an all-time low, per a September Vanity Fair account from a mutual source. The brothers had no communication despite Harry’s brief Windsor visit, with William described as more upset than ever and firm on boundaries. While the recent remarks reflect Harry’s pattern of public commentary on royal life, no direct evidence links them to newly deteriorated family relations.
Holidays Apart, Future Uncertain
Harry plans to spend the 2025 holidays in the United States, 5,000 miles from Sandringham where Charles and William will gather. This physical separation mirrors six years of estrangement since Harry and Meghan stepped back as working royals in 2020, marked by interviews, a Netflix series, memoir, and legal actions. In the U.S., Harry’s comedic style cements his shift to a Hollywood figure reclaiming his narrative. Commentators warn that with Charles in his late seventies and treatment ongoing, time for mending divides may narrow, potentially leaving regrets if health worsens without resolution. The silences from Palace figures leave the rift’s trajectory unclear, sustaining public focus on Windsor’s internal dynamics.
Sources:
Prince Harry Jokes That Life with the Royal Family Was ‘Like Downton Abbey’ – with ‘Drama’ and ‘Intrigue’ – People
Was Harry referencing Trump in joke for Late Show sketch? – BBC
Prince Harry and Prince William’s Relationship Is at an “All-Time Low” – Vanity Fair
A Complete Timeline of King Charles’s Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment – People
Prince Harry Reportedly Found Out About King Charles’s Hospitalization Through the Media – InStyle