Known for his sarcastic and witty humor, Allen humorously referred to the Sussexes as the "Duke and Duchess of Netflix." He joked about their move to California, where they signed multi-million-dollar deals with streaming platforms and made appearances on various shows and podcasts.
Tom Allen also playfully touched on their claims of facing racism and oppression within the royal family, jesting about their "unimaginable challenges" such as choosing between a Range Rover or a Bentley and deciding whether to vacation at a king's palace or by the beach. The audience, including Prince William and Kate Middleton, responded with hearty laughter and applause throughout the show.
The royal couple, second in line to the throne, seemed to be in good spirits and showed no signs of discomfort or displeasure at the comedian's remarks. However, some fans and commentators felt that Allen's humor was disrespectful, insensitive, and borderline bullying toward Harry and Meghan. They believed he had crossed a line, particularly given the couple's openness about their mental health struggles and the impact of media scrutiny on their lives.
On Twitter, one user criticized Tom Allen, calling him "cruel and mean" and urging him to be ashamed of making fun of Harry and Meghan, considering what they've been through. Another user expressed disappointment that Prince William and Kate were laughing at the jokes, questioning their supposed familial bond with the Sussexes and labeling them as heartless and hypocritical.
Tom Allen later shared a photo of himself with Prince William and Kate on Instagram, expressing his honor at hosting The Royal Variety Show and describing the royal couple as gracious, lovely, and possessing a great sense of humor.
