December 8, 2025 • 9 mins
Prince Harry’s surprise Colbert cameo was supposed to be cute, festive, and harmless — instead, it’s detonated into one of the most brutal weeks of criticism he’s faced since Spare. Royal experts, PR strategists, and even late-night audiences say the Duke’s jokes fell flat, his jabs at President Trump crossed a diplomatic red line, and his attempts at self-deprecating American reinvention have curdled into something “desperate.” Deep Crown calls it “irrelevance catching up.” British commentators say it was “self-harm.” U.S. audiences booed him. And palace insiders warn the fallout is severe — with fresh calls to strip Harry’s titles entirely. We unpack the backlash, the political blowback, and why even sympathetic voices now say the Duke may have just closed the door on any path home.
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Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.
Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.
👑 Follow our hit series Crown and Controversy! Season 1 and 2 are fully available now for everyone. Season 3 has new episodes every Sunday on the regular feed. GET THE FULL SEASON 3 BEFORE REGULAR LISTENERS as a subscriber! Hit that "UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING" Banner on the top of the Apple player. AND listen to Crown and Controversy "NORWAY'S ROYAL REBELS" here and get the full season as a premium subscriber now.
👑 The Palace Intrigue Social Hub is Live! Join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram or click the links to start your royal journey!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Calorogus Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I
am your host, Mark Francis Prince. Harry's latest late night cameo,
seemingly designed as a light seasonal moment, has instead prompted
renewed criticism from viewers and public relations specialists, who argue
(00:24):
the Duke's comedic instincts once again misfired. What began as
a cheerful surprise appearance soon shifted toward awkwardness, raising fresh
questions about the direction of his American reinvention. Rail insider
Deep Crown tells Pallas Intrigue the most telling moment wasn't
anything Harry said. It was watching him say it. There's
a desperation now that wasn't there even a year ago.
(00:46):
He's become a man arguing with an institution that's simply
moved on without him. Colbert lobbed soft balls, Harry swung dutifully,
and the British public barely noticed. That's not Pallas strategy.
That's irrelevance catching up with so some one who mistook
departure for leverage. The working Royals were doing actual work
that day. Harry was doing what he does now, performing
(01:08):
grievance for an audience that's increasingly changed the channel. In
the Telegraph, Judith wrote, with every painful, unfunny joke on
Stephen Colbert, the Duke came across as a man who
no longer knows who he is. I'm going to say
something I never thought I would, and I'm going to
say it loudly so he can hear a cross in
this magical kingdom of Montecito. Harry, You're better than this,
(01:33):
I know. Right if you thought the Oprah Winfrey interview
was a mistake and that spare his Gilded Misery memoir
was an insult to king and country, It's got nothing
on what can only be described as an excruciating act
of self harm. He mocked American's obsession with royalty and
sent up Donald Trump by claiming the US had elected
a king, a reference to the no King left wing
(01:54):
protests which took place in October, voicing opposition to the
President and his administration. Fair enough on a satirical show,
but so badly, so painfully done. I just wished he
would stop trying to be something he not. The only
moment that rang vaguely true was when Harry acted as
though he were desperate for a role in the aforementioned
Hallmark movie, pleading that he would do anything and adding
(02:16):
that he could ride a horse and fly a helicopter.
Pr Advisor Mark Borkowski suggested Harry's recent attempt at humor
highlights wider concerns about how he is presenting himself in
the United States. Speaking to The Daily Mail, he described
the skit as yet another embarrassment and said that sussexes
appear increasingly adrift as they continue to chase celebrity. Brokowski
(02:39):
argued that the issue is not that Harry seeks a
place with an American entertainment culture, but rather how he
is going about it. Harry's Colbert skit isn't embarrassing because
he's chasing us celebrity. It's embarrassing because he's doing it badly,
he said. He went on to criticize the Duke's tone,
noting that making fun of your own privilege only works
(03:00):
when the audience believes you've transcended it. Harry hasn't the
joke's land like a man reminding you of a punchline
that expired three years ago. According to Borkowski, the humor
felt not just dated but revealing. He suggested Harry keep
leaning on the same tired I'm a prince, but not
that kind of prince stick, as if self deprecation can
(03:21):
launder the monarchy off him, it can't. In America, the
novelty wore off the minute Netflix lost interest. The pr
strategist went further, saying the late night exchange exposed to
what he described as an ongoing confusion in the Duke's
post royal identity. What we're seeing is the classic identity
vacuum of the man who walked out of the royal
machine without building a new want to stand in. In
(03:42):
his view, each appearance and public facing joke is an
attempt to construct a persona that was never particularly sought
by the audience. As he put it, you can't reinvent
yourself while still selling tickets to the old you. He
wants to be just Harry, but every beat of the
joke depends on the audience knowing he isn't pushing Borkowski
also warned that American fame can be fleeting, remarking that
(04:04):
the Duke's present strategy isn't helping him maintain it. He added,
it's all got a bit thirsty, the party circuits, the
strategic handshakes. The famous don't mind being mocked, they fear
being ignored. Harry's skating worryingly close to the latter. The
historical nods proved no more successful. When Colbert described King
George the Third as a jerk, Harry responded, simply let
(04:28):
it go. Kingsey Schofield told Fox News Digital Harry's chabb
at President Trump on Colbert wasn't clever, it was reckless. Honestly,
how did he thinking hold onto a royal title while
taking public swipes to the head of a foreign government.
It's also a slap in the face. Buckingham Palace put
significant effort into a major state visit for President Trump
(04:49):
to support diplomatic relations, and frankly, it's a slap to
President Trump as well, considering he agreed to ease up
on Harry's immigration situation out of a personal respect for
King Charle. Hillary forded to another British royals expert, drew
attention to the moment the studio audience turned on harry sheads.
Harry did himself no favors and to hear that, decidedly
(05:10):
left leaning New York City audience boo him. He went
from cheers and a standing ovasion at first to that
a few minutes summary, if you ask me of his
entire trajectory, His ghastly, self defeating swipe at both President
Trump and his own royal family signaled yet again his
terrible judgment. The Andrew saga has already left the Royal
(05:32):
family exposed, and the King is trying to manage those
issues while carrying out daily duties and undergoing regular cancer treatment.
In her view, Harry has now made matters worse for Harry.
To stir a more controversy connected to the family only
accelerates internal discussions about removing his titles. If anything, this
moment underscores that there is no path back for Harry
for those insisting still be a valuable asset, he just
(05:54):
proved what a liability he is. Reflecting on past attention
involving the Prince and Princess of Wales, Chaffield also recalled
how Stephen Colbert's earlier jokes had hurt the couple at
a difficult time. That was one of the hardest years
of William's life, and he's acknowledged that publicly. Colbert's nasty
monologue deeply upset both the Prince and Princess, who were
(06:15):
already under immense pressure as they quietly navigated Catherine's cancer
diagnosis while trying to protect their children from fear or confusion.
Rose was prepared to sue, and for Harry to run
into Colbert's stage and crack jokes with him tells you
everything about where that relationship stands. It's irrevocably broken more
(06:37):
palace in just a moment. Veteran royal correspondent Phil Dampiers
said the reaction inside palace circles will be severe following
the Duke of Sussex's latest American television appearance. The King,
Prince William and courtiers will be horrified. Most dangerous of
all his jokes about Trump. The Royals can't start meddling
(06:58):
in US politics without dangers, and he should have steered
clear of the subject. Dampiers said the appearance demonstrated that
the Duke doesn't care any more about royal protocol and
should now face the same consequences as other relatives whose
conduct has placed the monarchy under strain. Harry is now
a showbiz Hollywood celebrity, not a royal. As such, he
(07:19):
should lose his titles and be removed from the line
of succession. Then he could do whatever he pleased and
no one could complain. The idea that he can come
back to the UK and carry out some royal duties
is now shot to pieces. He is in California for
the rest of his life and he's totally been taken
over by his wife's world. Royal commentator Tom Sykes, editor
(07:40):
of The Royalist Newsletter, said the Palace is left with
limited room to maneuver after the Duke of Sussex's latest appearance.
I think the royal family has no real choice, he said,
noting that Harry continues to act as though his royal
status no longer carries diplomatic consequences. According to Sikes, the
Duke's assumption that he can now speak freely simply does
not match his public reality. Harry believes he's free to
(08:03):
speak his mind now he's no longer a working royal.
I think if he were truly living as Harry Wales's
private citizen, the argument would hold water. But he isn't
Harry Wales. He's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and in
the American imagination, he still carries a full aura of
the prince, a representative of the monarchy. A global audience
does not grasp that Harry isn't still a part of
(08:23):
the Windsor family business. Charles and William maybe hundreds of
miles away in Bowmorral or Windsor, but in the American
mind they are standing just off stage as Harry delivers
his punchlines. Sykes warned that because of this, many in
the United States will view Harry's remarks in a straightforward way,
saying most Americans will simply see a British prince insulting
their head of state. The titles must be removed, not
(08:46):
his punishment, but for clarity. Removing them draws a clear
blue line between Prince Harry the royal and Harry the
private citizen. It protects the monarchy from his volatility. He
either doesn't understand the danger he walked into, or he
simply no longer cares, having developed a craving for the
spotlight and for applause that overwhelms caution, context, and even
(09:07):
self preservation. I believe Harry thought he was being clever,
tossing off a cheeky wink across the Atlantic. Instead, he
plunged headlong into America's defining fear. This at a time
when the Trump administration is reportedly canceling visas for people
who merely criticize conservative influences, a moment when political deviation,
even trivial deviation, can be treated as grounds for removal.
(09:31):
And there you have it. If you'd like to email
us or addresses the Palace Intrigue at gmail dot com,
please follow us on Spotify, Apple or the app of
your choice, and it leaves a nice view from enjoying
the show, I Mark Francis my thanks to John McDermott.
This is Palace Intrigue. Good terms,
Calorogus Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I
am your host, Mark Francis Prince. Harry's latest late night cameo,
seemingly designed as a light seasonal moment, has instead prompted
renewed criticism from viewers and public relations specialists, who argue
(00:24):
the Duke's comedic instincts once again misfired. What began as
a cheerful surprise appearance soon shifted toward awkwardness, raising fresh
questions about the direction of his American reinvention. Rail insider
Deep Crown tells Pallas Intrigue the most telling moment wasn't
anything Harry said. It was watching him say it. There's
a desperation now that wasn't there even a year ago.
(00:46):
He's become a man arguing with an institution that's simply
moved on without him. Colbert lobbed soft balls, Harry swung dutifully,
and the British public barely noticed. That's not Pallas strategy.
That's irrelevance catching up with so some one who mistook
departure for leverage. The working Royals were doing actual work
that day. Harry was doing what he does now, performing
(01:08):
grievance for an audience that's increasingly changed the channel. In
the Telegraph, Judith wrote, with every painful, unfunny joke on
Stephen Colbert, the Duke came across as a man who
no longer knows who he is. I'm going to say
something I never thought I would, and I'm going to
say it loudly so he can hear a cross in
this magical kingdom of Montecito. Harry, You're better than this,
(01:33):
I know. Right if you thought the Oprah Winfrey interview
was a mistake and that spare his Gilded Misery memoir
was an insult to king and country, It's got nothing
on what can only be described as an excruciating act
of self harm. He mocked American's obsession with royalty and
sent up Donald Trump by claiming the US had elected
a king, a reference to the no King left wing
(01:54):
protests which took place in October, voicing opposition to the
President and his administration. Fair enough on a satirical show,
but so badly, so painfully done. I just wished he
would stop trying to be something he not. The only
moment that rang vaguely true was when Harry acted as
though he were desperate for a role in the aforementioned
Hallmark movie, pleading that he would do anything and adding
(02:16):
that he could ride a horse and fly a helicopter.
Pr Advisor Mark Borkowski suggested Harry's recent attempt at humor
highlights wider concerns about how he is presenting himself in
the United States. Speaking to The Daily Mail, he described
the skit as yet another embarrassment and said that sussexes
appear increasingly adrift as they continue to chase celebrity. Brokowski
(02:39):
argued that the issue is not that Harry seeks a
place with an American entertainment culture, but rather how he
is going about it. Harry's Colbert skit isn't embarrassing because
he's chasing us celebrity. It's embarrassing because he's doing it badly,
he said. He went on to criticize the Duke's tone,
noting that making fun of your own privilege only works
(03:00):
when the audience believes you've transcended it. Harry hasn't the
joke's land like a man reminding you of a punchline
that expired three years ago. According to Borkowski, the humor
felt not just dated but revealing. He suggested Harry keep
leaning on the same tired I'm a prince, but not
that kind of prince stick, as if self deprecation can
(03:21):
launder the monarchy off him, it can't. In America, the
novelty wore off the minute Netflix lost interest. The pr
strategist went further, saying the late night exchange exposed to
what he described as an ongoing confusion in the Duke's
post royal identity. What we're seeing is the classic identity
vacuum of the man who walked out of the royal
machine without building a new want to stand in. In
(03:42):
his view, each appearance and public facing joke is an
attempt to construct a persona that was never particularly sought
by the audience. As he put it, you can't reinvent
yourself while still selling tickets to the old you. He
wants to be just Harry, but every beat of the
joke depends on the audience knowing he isn't pushing Borkowski
also warned that American fame can be fleeting, remarking that
(04:04):
the Duke's present strategy isn't helping him maintain it. He added,
it's all got a bit thirsty, the party circuits, the
strategic handshakes. The famous don't mind being mocked, they fear
being ignored. Harry's skating worryingly close to the latter. The
historical nods proved no more successful. When Colbert described King
George the Third as a jerk, Harry responded, simply let
(04:28):
it go. Kingsey Schofield told Fox News Digital Harry's chabb
at President Trump on Colbert wasn't clever, it was reckless. Honestly,
how did he thinking hold onto a royal title while
taking public swipes to the head of a foreign government.
It's also a slap in the face. Buckingham Palace put
significant effort into a major state visit for President Trump
(04:49):
to support diplomatic relations, and frankly, it's a slap to
President Trump as well, considering he agreed to ease up
on Harry's immigration situation out of a personal respect for
King Charle. Hillary forded to another British royals expert, drew
attention to the moment the studio audience turned on harry sheads.
Harry did himself no favors and to hear that, decidedly
(05:10):
left leaning New York City audience boo him. He went
from cheers and a standing ovasion at first to that
a few minutes summary, if you ask me of his
entire trajectory, His ghastly, self defeating swipe at both President
Trump and his own royal family signaled yet again his
terrible judgment. The Andrew saga has already left the Royal
(05:32):
family exposed, and the King is trying to manage those
issues while carrying out daily duties and undergoing regular cancer treatment.
In her view, Harry has now made matters worse for Harry.
To stir a more controversy connected to the family only
accelerates internal discussions about removing his titles. If anything, this
moment underscores that there is no path back for Harry
for those insisting still be a valuable asset, he just
(05:54):
proved what a liability he is. Reflecting on past attention
involving the Prince and Princess of Wales, Chaffield also recalled
how Stephen Colbert's earlier jokes had hurt the couple at
a difficult time. That was one of the hardest years
of William's life, and he's acknowledged that publicly. Colbert's nasty
monologue deeply upset both the Prince and Princess, who were
(06:15):
already under immense pressure as they quietly navigated Catherine's cancer
diagnosis while trying to protect their children from fear or confusion.
Rose was prepared to sue, and for Harry to run
into Colbert's stage and crack jokes with him tells you
everything about where that relationship stands. It's irrevocably broken more
(06:37):
palace in just a moment. Veteran royal correspondent Phil Dampiers
said the reaction inside palace circles will be severe following
the Duke of Sussex's latest American television appearance. The King,
Prince William and courtiers will be horrified. Most dangerous of
all his jokes about Trump. The Royals can't start meddling
(06:58):
in US politics without dangers, and he should have steered
clear of the subject. Dampiers said the appearance demonstrated that
the Duke doesn't care any more about royal protocol and
should now face the same consequences as other relatives whose
conduct has placed the monarchy under strain. Harry is now
a showbiz Hollywood celebrity, not a royal. As such, he
(07:19):
should lose his titles and be removed from the line
of succession. Then he could do whatever he pleased and
no one could complain. The idea that he can come
back to the UK and carry out some royal duties
is now shot to pieces. He is in California for
the rest of his life and he's totally been taken
over by his wife's world. Royal commentator Tom Sykes, editor
(07:40):
of The Royalist Newsletter, said the Palace is left with
limited room to maneuver after the Duke of Sussex's latest appearance.
I think the royal family has no real choice, he said,
noting that Harry continues to act as though his royal
status no longer carries diplomatic consequences. According to Sikes, the
Duke's assumption that he can now speak freely simply does
not match his public reality. Harry believes he's free to
(08:03):
speak his mind now he's no longer a working royal.
I think if he were truly living as Harry Wales's
private citizen, the argument would hold water. But he isn't
Harry Wales. He's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and in
the American imagination, he still carries a full aura of
the prince, a representative of the monarchy. A global audience
does not grasp that Harry isn't still a part of
(08:23):
the Windsor family business. Charles and William maybe hundreds of
miles away in Bowmorral or Windsor, but in the American
mind they are standing just off stage as Harry delivers
his punchlines. Sykes warned that because of this, many in
the United States will view Harry's remarks in a straightforward way,
saying most Americans will simply see a British prince insulting
their head of state. The titles must be removed, not
(08:46):
his punishment, but for clarity. Removing them draws a clear
blue line between Prince Harry the royal and Harry the
private citizen. It protects the monarchy from his volatility. He
either doesn't understand the danger he walked into, or he
simply no longer cares, having developed a craving for the
spotlight and for applause that overwhelms caution, context, and even
(09:07):
self preservation. I believe Harry thought he was being clever,
tossing off a cheeky wink across the Atlantic. Instead, he
plunged headlong into America's defining fear. This at a time
when the Trump administration is reportedly canceling visas for people
who merely criticize conservative influences, a moment when political deviation,
even trivial deviation, can be treated as grounds for removal.
(09:31):
And there you have it. If you'd like to email
us or addresses the Palace Intrigue at gmail dot com,
please follow us on Spotify, Apple or the app of
your choice, and it leaves a nice view from enjoying
the show, I Mark Francis my thanks to John McDermott.
This is Palace Intrigue. Good terms,
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