The Duke of Sussex has been criticised for a recent TV appearance which pointed out the cruel irony of his comedy sketch and his current celebrity lifestyle in the US

Prince Harry on the Stephen Colbert Show

Prince Harry has been slammed for a surprise recent TV appearance, which exposed the cruel irony between his awkward comedy skit and his current celebrity lifestyle in America. The Duke of Sussex made an unexpected appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, in which he featured in a sketch portraying himself as he tried out to become a Hallmark film ” Christmas prince”.

The talk show host questioned why an actual prince would wish to star in such productions, leading Harry to respond: “You Americans are obsessed with Christmas movies, and you’re clearly obsessed with royalty, so why not?”

Prince Harry was criticised over his appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert(Image: CBS)

When Colbert challenged the notion of an American “obsession,” Harry wisecracked: “Really? I hear you elected a king,” in what appeared to be a nod to the “No Kings” demonstrations aimed at the Trump administration.

Harry has since received a wave of backlash for his brief appearance, with many wondering why the Duke opted to appear on the late night talk show in the first place. According to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, the appearance missed the mark entirely.

She told the Mirror : “I can’t for the life of me think why Harry chose to do this. What was in it for him? The result was an onslaught of criticism – for a rather stilted performance, for a political joke and for the timing (with his father in law in hospital and the State Banquet at Windsor).”

While some royal watchers found the joy in Harry’s skit, Jennie Bond believes there was a painful irony in the comedy sketch, in which the prince begged for a role in a fictional Christmas film.

A royal expert has wondered why Harry participated in such a comedy skit(Image: CBS via Getty Images)

She said: “I like Harry, and I rather admire the way he’s willing to laugh at himself, but this just seemed so unnecessary. It was also rather too painfully close to the truth: a Prince looking for a role and willing to do anything to secure one.”

With the TV appearance coming at the same time the Royal Family were hosting the German president for a historic state visit in Windsor, Jennie added: “The contrast between Harry larking around as a LA celebrity and the dignity of his family back home exercising their soft power at a glittering banquet was stark.”

Jennie’s comments were echoed by another royal expert, as Tom Sykes, editor of the Royalist newsletter on Substack, called for Harry to be stripped of his titles as a result of the TV appearance, to make it clear to the US public that his views and comments are his own, and do not reflect that stance taken by the Royal Family.

Jennie Bond said the TV appearance was a “bad choice”

Harry’s comments about Trump just months after the US leader and First Lady travelled to the UK for a whirlwind state visit, in which both Trump and King Charles spoke fondly about each other and the relationship between the two nations.

Jennie said that all in all, Harry’s appearance on the show was tone deaf, and he would be better off sticking to his other philanthropic efforts, instead of trying to pursue a career in showbusiness.

She said: “A bad choice, Harry: you are not an actor or a comedian. Stick to your charity work and campaigning on issues you care about. Or, indeed, just stick to being a great dad and husband – you seem to be wonderfully good at that.”