Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had barely touched down on British soil before “Saturday Night Live UK” decided to welcome them back with a roast. The British version of the iconic sketch comedy show took aim at the royal couple’s relationship with the royal family, their lucrative Netflix deal, and Markle’s lifestyle brand as the pair settled back into life across the pond.
A quiet weekend at Balmoral seemed to belong to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the start of the sketch. But that calm was short-lived.
“Oh, Camilla, nothing like a quiet Saturday in Balmoral. Clean Scottish air, dirty Scottish people … bliss,” the King, portrayed by Larry Dean, said.
“I do so love our weekends away,” Camilla, played by Emma Sidi, added. “No responsibilities – just like every other day.”
Markle, played by Ayoade Bamgboye, and Prince Harry, played by Jack Shep, entered the room together.
“Daddy, I’m home,” Prince Harry said as the two entered.
The show didn’t waste time. It immediately made jokes about Markle’s Netflix show “With Love, Meghan.” Markle’s character brought an ice tray as a “gift” for Queen Camilla.
The line comes from a character played by “It’s ice. I made it myself. I can give you the recipe. I’m kind of a wiz in the kitchen,” who makes a remark during the sketch that has drawn attention.
“It’s true. She hires the best cooks,” the fake Prince Harry added.
The king grew doubtful about why they had returned as he watched the pair pile up the open demonstrations of fondness.
King Charles joked that the “Don’t tell me you spent all your Netflix money already,” was a dean.
A fabricated version of Prince Harry complained, “Daddy, it was $60 million! How long was it meant to last?”.
A representative for Markle and Prince Harry was contacted by Fox News Digital.
The Homecoming Details
Prince Harry and Markle returned to the U.K. in late August. Their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, have already signed up for British schools and will begin their classes sometime in September. The family intends to settle at a private, nonroyal home away from London, even though they haven’t disclosed the specific location yet.
The couple’s return didn’t come with a royal reset. Buckingham Palace reaffirmed that the couple will not resume official duties and that their status remains unchanged from when they stepped back as working royals in 2020.
“It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of The Sovereign, and are no longer working Members of The Royal Family,” a letter sent on behalf of King Charles III read, Fox News confirmed. “This position, distinct from the State and Royal duties undertaken by the working Royal Family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish, will continue to be fully respected.”
The note went on to make clear that a change in address carries no change in royal standing.
“It follows that there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” the letter added. “Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used. The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity. In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
The message came from the Lord Chamberlain, who stood highest among the king’s servants at court, addressed to those holding high office within the government and military, along with lord lieutenants, the monarch’s personal agents stationed throughout the realm.
What the Sketch Actually Said
Several elements of the couple’s current situation were touched upon in the SNL UK sketch.
- The Netflix deal, with the $60 million joke landing first
- Markle’s lifestyle brand, mocked through the ice-tray gift
- The couple’s reluctance to give up their money, played for laughs
The Reaction So Far
The roast landed on British television at a moment when the royal family is still figuring out how to handle the Sussexes’ return. The letter from Buckingham Palace made clear that the couple’s status will not shift, even though they now live closer to London.
The SNL UK sketch presented the couple’s arrival as a single episode of comedy, not as an ongoing gag, and that message appears alongside it.
A couple expected a fresh start when they returned home, but what they received was a harsh welcome, as the SNL UK sketch makes clear.
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