Prince Harry recently made a joking reference to President Donald Trump as a "king" during a surprise appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on December 3, 2025.

The Comment

In a Christmas sketch, Harry suggested Americans are obsessed with royalty, prompting Colbert to deny it. Harry quipped, "Really? I heard you elected a king," alluding to Trump's leadership style and echoing "No Kings" protests against the administration. The audience responded with boos, highlighting the remark's divisive reception in a left-leaning New York crowd.

Context and Reactions

The joke also referenced CBS settling a lawsuit with the White House, with Harry adding he'd "settle a baseless lawsuit with the White House" for a role. Royal experts called it "reckless," warning it could harm U.S.-U.K. relations and Harry's visa status, given Trump's past comments on his drug admissions. This revives tensions from 2020, when Harry and Meghan critiqued hate speech seen as targeting Trump.