Prince Harry’s surprise appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has reignited a major debate inside royal-watching circles and some commentators are now calling on King Charles to formally remove his titles.
During the show, Harry joined Colbert in a lighthearted comedy sketch where he humorously “auditioned” to be a Hallmark-style Christmas prince. The bit included jokes about America’s love for holiday movies, playful digs at Colbert, and a sharp one-liner referencing Donald Trump. When Colbert questioned whether Americans are really “obsessed” with royalty, Harry responded with a pointed quip: “Really? I hear you elected a king.” The line was widely interpreted as a jab at Trump and the authoritarian tone of his political movement.
The exchange escalated when Harry joked about doing “anything” to get the fictional role including settling a “baseless lawsuit with the White House,” a clear nod to CBS’s recent settlement involving Trump. The segment eventually shifted into a full holiday spectacle, with Harry urging Colbert to “believe” as sleigh bells chimed and Christmas trees appeared.
While many viewers found the sketch harmless and funny, royal commentator Tom Sykes argued that the clip proves the monarchy is facing a serious dilemma. Writing in The Daily Beast’s Royalist, Sykes said that Harry cannot claim to be an ordinary private citizen while still carrying the global aura of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.
According to Sykes, American audiences especially those who aren’t deeply familiar with the nuances of royal protocol still view Harry as a direct representative of the monarchy, regardless of the couple’s exit from royal duties. That perception, he argued, means that every joke, political comment, or public moment from Harry reflects back on King Charles and Prince William, whether they like it or not.
Sykes believes the only solution is for King Charles to remove Harry’s remaining titles, not as a punishment but as a way to finally set clear boundaries between “Harry the private citizen” and “Prince Harry the royal figure.” He warns that without drawing that line, the monarchy risks being pulled into Harry’s unpredictable TV moments and his frequent willingness to speak openly about political or personal issues.
The question now is whether King Charles is willing to take such a dramatic step or whether the royal family will continue navigating the fallout each time Harry makes a headline-grabbing appearance.
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