Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have become an easy target for comedians again,
and this time royal watchers say it says a lot about where the couple
currently stands.
The pair relocated back to the UK at the end of August, and their return hasn't exactly been smooth. Security concerns reportedly pushed them to withdraw their children from school, while a recent statement from King Charles III about their royal status is said to have caused tension within their camp.
Adding to their troubles, SNL UK used its new season to poke fun at the couple. In the sketch, actors playing Harry and Meghan turn up at Balmoral to see King Charles and Queen Camilla, with Harry cheerfully announcing his arrival. The King's character wastes no time joking about the couple's finances, asking if they've already burned through their reported Netflix earnings. More digs follow, including a bit mocking Meghan's lifestyle-brand persona.
The sketch got plenty of laughs — and plenty of commentary. Royal critic Rupert Bell and US commentator Kinsey Schofield both weighed in, suggesting the couple has become just as much of a punchline in Britain now as they already were in America. Bell argued that being satirised this easily, so soon after moving back, is not a good sign, and pointed to a perceived sense of entitlement that makes them an easy comedic target.
With King Charles's statement confirming the couple will be treated strictly as private citizens, speculation continues over what kind of relationship — if any — they'll have with the wider Royal Family going forward. For now, Harry and Meghan are said to be settled in the Cotswolds, trying to build a quieter life away from the spotlight that keeps finding them anyway.
Key Takeaways
- SNL UK's new season took direct aim at Harry and Meghan in a fresh sketch set at Balmoral.
- Royal commentators say being mocked this openly signals how badly their standing has slipped.
- The couple recently pulled their kids out of school over security worries.
- King Charles's latest statement makes clear they'll now be treated as "private citizens."
- Experts say their UK comeback hasn't gone the way they hoped.
