In a light-hearted and unexpected move, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, made a surprise cameo on American television, playfully teasing a potential pivot to acting. The royal appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert during its episode aired on Wednesday, engaging in a comedy sketch where he auditioned for a fictional festive film.
A Royal Audition for a Christmas Prince
The segment opened with host Stephen Colbert critiquing a montage of royal-themed Christmas movies, calling them "a little problematic" for setting unrealistic holiday expectations. At that moment, Prince Harry walked onto the set to loud cheers from the studio audience.
Harry announced he was trying to get an audition for a fake movie titled The Gingerbread Prince Saves Christmas in Nebraska, a clear parody of the wholesome Hallmark channel genre. When Colbert questioned why an actual prince would want to be in such a film, Harry quipped, "Well, you Americans are obsessed with Christmas movies, and you're clearly obsessed with royalty, so why not?"
Political Jabs and Audience Reaction
The banter took a briefly political turn when Colbert disagreed with Harry's logic. The prince fired back with a sly dig, asking, "Really, I heard you elected a king?" The comment was a clear reference to former US President Donald Trump and drew audible boos from the crowd.
This remark seemingly alluded to the "No Kings" protests directed at the Trump administration in October, which saw large rallies in major US cities including New York, Washington DC, and Los Angeles.
From Helicopters to Hallmark Connections
Determined to land the fake role, Harry listed his royal skills. "I've got skills," he said. "I can ride a horse. I can fly a helicopter. I can ride a horse in a helicopter."
Colbert suggested it was all about connections, asking if Harry had a "personal connection to any famous TV actresses." This was a direct nod to Harry's wife, Meghan Markle, the former Suits star who herself appeared in two Hallmark movies before marrying into the royal family.
Harry, showing his commitment, joked he would even "settle a baseless lawsuit with the White House"—a reference to the $36 million settlement CBS reached with Donald Trump over an edited interview with Kamala Harris.
The playful exchange continued with Harry quipping that Colbert's show was "cancelled," referencing the shock announcement in July about the program ending. As fake snow fell, Harry declared himself the "most handsome prince" and was finally awarded the part by Colbert as "the official Late Show Prince of Christmas."
The bit was so notable that the real Hallmark channel even responded on social media, posting, "Prince Harry, how did you know we were looking for a horse-riding helicopter-flying American Hallmark Prince? No audition needed, you're hired!?"
The appearance marks another step in Harry and Meghan's life in the United States, having stepped back as working royals in 2020 and settled in California.
