Royal roast: SNL mocks Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over trade deal joke
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If you tuned into Saturday Night Live this weekend, you might have caught a zinger that had both sides of the Atlantic buzzing.
The target? None other than Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The punchline? A cheeky jab at the couple’s place in the ongoing saga of UK-US relations—and a sign that America’s love affair with the Sussexes may be cooling off.
The Joke Heard ‘Round the World
During SNL’s signature “Weekend Update” segment, host Colin Jost recapped the week’s headlines, including the current trade deal between the UK and the US between Sir Keir Stamer and Donald Trump.
The twist? Jost quipped, “President Trump also announced a new trade deal with the UK that will reopen British markets for American companies. All that Britain demands in return is that we keep these two,” as a photo of Harry and Meghan flashed on the screen.
Changing American Sentiment
The audience roared, but the joke landed with a sting. For a couple who once enjoyed glowing headlines and red-carpet welcomes in the States, being the butt of a transatlantic trade gag is a sign of shifting tides.
When Harry and Meghan first left royal duties behind in 2020 and settled in sunny Montecito, California, American media rolled out the red carpet.
Meghan graced the cover of Vanity Fair in 2018 with the headline “She’s just wild about Harry!” and the couple’s bombshell Oprah interview in 2021 drew global sympathy and support.
However, in 2024, the tone changed dramatically with a new Vanity Fair cover and an 8,000-word story titled “American Hustle.” The exposé quoted “dozens” of sources who criticized the couple as: “The most entitled, disingenuous people on the planet.”
Criticism of Meghan's Behavior
The same article alleged Meghan could be “really, really awful” when things didn’t go her way.
Former staff described her behavior as initially friendly, but said she could become “cold and withholding toward the person she perceived to be responsible”when problems arose.
In earlier news: Charity leadership sees shake-up as Prince Harry and others depart–The feud behind the scenes
Despite the negative press, insiders insist the couple’s marriage is strong, with one source declaring, “Their love is real, and they’re still hot for each other.”
But public opinion is clearly in flux. A recent YouGov poll revealed that Harry remains the second most popular living royal among Americans—trailing only his brother, Prince William.
Meghan, however, lags behind, with 41% of Americans viewing her positively and 25% negatively. Even King Charles and Princess Catherine outpolled the Duchess, despite Meghan being the only US citizen in the royal family.
Public Scrutiny and Private Struggles
The SNL joke comes on the heels of a tough few weeks for the Sussexes.
Source: @nbcsnl / Youtube.
Prince Harry recently reignited public scrutiny of his family dynamics through an explosive BBC interview, following his failed appeal against the UK Home Office regarding his security arrangements.
After losing the case on May 2 at the Court of Appeal, Harry decried the ruling as a “good old-fashioned Establishment stitch-up.”
His comments sparked backlash, especially after he expressed frustration that his father, King Charles—currently battling cancer—“won’t speak to me” and lamented that he “doesn’t know how much longer he has left.”
Soon after Harry returned from the UK, he and Meghan attended Beyoncé’s concert in LA, dancing among a crowd of thousands at the SoFi Stadium.
Also read: “I don’t have long”: Woman linked to Jeffrey Epstein scandal speaks out after accident
The duchess, who first met Beyoncé and Jay Z at The Lion King premiere in 2019, posted concert snapshots showing the couple in cowboy-themed outfits, in line with the tour’s aesthetic.
In one of Meghan’s Instagram posts, Harry is seen kissing her cheek, while other clips show her cheering during Beyoncé’s performance of 16 Carriages.
She captioned the photos, “About last night... Thank you Beyoncé and team for an amazing concert (and a very fun date night) All love.”
Concertgoers also shared footage of Harry subtly moving to the music while Meghan danced energetically. Meghan wore a fitted denim dress, while Harry sported a green cowboy hat with “My Love,” and the names Lili and Archie inscribed inside, along with UK and US flags.
The Halo singer, who began this tour a year and a half after wrapping up her Renaissance World Tour, has welcomed Harry and Meghan at past performances.
They previously attended her show in 2023 and had also marked Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland’s 67th birthday at one of her concerts.
However, not all of their interactions with Beyoncé and Jay Z have gone smoothly. At the 2019 Lion King premiere, things started well when Beyoncé greeted Meghan as “my princess,” but tension emerged when the Sussexes seemed to inquire about voiceover roles with director Jon Favreau.
A video of the moment shows Beyoncé awkwardly turning away after appearing uncomfortable.
Later that evening, Prince Harry was recorded pitching Meghan’s voice talents to Disney CEO Bob Iger, saying, “You do know she does voiceovers?”
Iger responded, “Ah, I did not know that,” prompting Harry to add, “You seem surprised. She’s really interested.” Iger then replied, “We’d love to try. That’s a great idea.”
Despite those moments, Beyoncé has voiced support for Meghan in the past. Following the Oprah interview, she praised her online, writing, “Thank you Meghan for your courage and leadership. We are all strengthened and inspired by you.”
In their Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan, the Duchess recounted receiving a message from Beyoncé, saying: “Beyoncé just texted, just checking in… I still can't believe she knows who I am…”
Meghan added that Beyoncé said she “wants me to feel safe and protected,” and admired her “bravery and vulnerability,” believing she was “selected to break generational curses that need to be healed.”
Read next: Hidden danger in grandma's purse: A must-read warning!
What do you think? Is America really turning its back on Harry and Meghan, or is this just another bump in the road for the world’s most talked-about couple? Have you found your own opinion of the Sussexes changing over the years? And what did you think of SNL’s joke? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The target? None other than Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The punchline? A cheeky jab at the couple’s place in the ongoing saga of UK-US relations—and a sign that America’s love affair with the Sussexes may be cooling off.
The Joke Heard ‘Round the World
During SNL’s signature “Weekend Update” segment, host Colin Jost recapped the week’s headlines, including the current trade deal between the UK and the US between Sir Keir Stamer and Donald Trump.
The twist? Jost quipped, “President Trump also announced a new trade deal with the UK that will reopen British markets for American companies. All that Britain demands in return is that we keep these two,” as a photo of Harry and Meghan flashed on the screen.
Changing American Sentiment
The audience roared, but the joke landed with a sting. For a couple who once enjoyed glowing headlines and red-carpet welcomes in the States, being the butt of a transatlantic trade gag is a sign of shifting tides.
When Harry and Meghan first left royal duties behind in 2020 and settled in sunny Montecito, California, American media rolled out the red carpet.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were mocked on Saturday Night Live, with a joke suggesting the UK wanted the US to keep the Sussexes as part of a trade deal. Image source: @nbcsnl / X.
Meghan graced the cover of Vanity Fair in 2018 with the headline “She’s just wild about Harry!” and the couple’s bombshell Oprah interview in 2021 drew global sympathy and support.
However, in 2024, the tone changed dramatically with a new Vanity Fair cover and an 8,000-word story titled “American Hustle.” The exposé quoted “dozens” of sources who criticized the couple as: “The most entitled, disingenuous people on the planet.”
Criticism of Meghan's Behavior
The same article alleged Meghan could be “really, really awful” when things didn’t go her way.
Former staff described her behavior as initially friendly, but said she could become “cold and withholding toward the person she perceived to be responsible”when problems arose.
In earlier news: Charity leadership sees shake-up as Prince Harry and others depart–The feud behind the scenes
Despite the negative press, insiders insist the couple’s marriage is strong, with one source declaring, “Their love is real, and they’re still hot for each other.”
But public opinion is clearly in flux. A recent YouGov poll revealed that Harry remains the second most popular living royal among Americans—trailing only his brother, Prince William.
Meghan, however, lags behind, with 41% of Americans viewing her positively and 25% negatively. Even King Charles and Princess Catherine outpolled the Duchess, despite Meghan being the only US citizen in the royal family.
Public Scrutiny and Private Struggles
The SNL joke comes on the heels of a tough few weeks for the Sussexes.
Source: @nbcsnl / Youtube.
Prince Harry recently reignited public scrutiny of his family dynamics through an explosive BBC interview, following his failed appeal against the UK Home Office regarding his security arrangements.
After losing the case on May 2 at the Court of Appeal, Harry decried the ruling as a “good old-fashioned Establishment stitch-up.”
His comments sparked backlash, especially after he expressed frustration that his father, King Charles—currently battling cancer—“won’t speak to me” and lamented that he “doesn’t know how much longer he has left.”
Soon after Harry returned from the UK, he and Meghan attended Beyoncé’s concert in LA, dancing among a crowd of thousands at the SoFi Stadium.
Also read: “I don’t have long”: Woman linked to Jeffrey Epstein scandal speaks out after accident
The duchess, who first met Beyoncé and Jay Z at The Lion King premiere in 2019, posted concert snapshots showing the couple in cowboy-themed outfits, in line with the tour’s aesthetic.
In one of Meghan’s Instagram posts, Harry is seen kissing her cheek, while other clips show her cheering during Beyoncé’s performance of 16 Carriages.
She captioned the photos, “About last night... Thank you Beyoncé and team for an amazing concert (and a very fun date night) All love.”
Concertgoers also shared footage of Harry subtly moving to the music while Meghan danced energetically. Meghan wore a fitted denim dress, while Harry sported a green cowboy hat with “My Love,” and the names Lili and Archie inscribed inside, along with UK and US flags.
The Sussexes were recently seen in Los Angeles attending Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour, posting photos and enjoying a high-profile night out, further fuelling both media interest and public scrutiny. Image source: @meghan / Instagram.
The Halo singer, who began this tour a year and a half after wrapping up her Renaissance World Tour, has welcomed Harry and Meghan at past performances.
They previously attended her show in 2023 and had also marked Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland’s 67th birthday at one of her concerts.
However, not all of their interactions with Beyoncé and Jay Z have gone smoothly. At the 2019 Lion King premiere, things started well when Beyoncé greeted Meghan as “my princess,” but tension emerged when the Sussexes seemed to inquire about voiceover roles with director Jon Favreau.
A video of the moment shows Beyoncé awkwardly turning away after appearing uncomfortable.
Later that evening, Prince Harry was recorded pitching Meghan’s voice talents to Disney CEO Bob Iger, saying, “You do know she does voiceovers?”
Iger responded, “Ah, I did not know that,” prompting Harry to add, “You seem surprised. She’s really interested.” Iger then replied, “We’d love to try. That’s a great idea.”
Despite those moments, Beyoncé has voiced support for Meghan in the past. Following the Oprah interview, she praised her online, writing, “Thank you Meghan for your courage and leadership. We are all strengthened and inspired by you.”
In their Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan, the Duchess recounted receiving a message from Beyoncé, saying: “Beyoncé just texted, just checking in… I still can't believe she knows who I am…”
Meghan added that Beyoncé said she “wants me to feel safe and protected,” and admired her “bravery and vulnerability,” believing she was “selected to break generational curses that need to be healed.”
Read next: Hidden danger in grandma's purse: A must-read warning!
What do you think? Is America really turning its back on Harry and Meghan, or is this just another bump in the road for the world’s most talked-about couple? Have you found your own opinion of the Sussexes changing over the years? And what did you think of SNL’s joke? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
