A "Gingerbread Prince" and a Trump joke make an appearance in Colbert's monologue...

On Thursday night, Prince Harry made a surprise appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, stepping into the hosts monologue to perform an audition for a whimsical holiday film complete with snow and earnestness. The mock movie? "The Gingerbread Christmas Prince Saves Christmas in Nebraska". Harry explained, Americans clearly love Christmas movies and royalty. The audience responded enthusiastically, supporting his claim.

Harry fully committed to the gag, delivering a deliberately over-the-top audition for the fictional holiday film. Alongside the playful skit, he also offered pointed commentary on current political matters, including media dynamics under the Trump administration and Colberts own experiences with public scrutiny.

The segment carried the loose, slightly chaotic charm typical of Colberts holiday sketches. However, the clip that gained traction online featured Harry making a quip early in the skit: in response to Colberts setup, he remarked, Really? I heard you elected a king. The reference to Donald Trump triggered audible boos and playful reactions from the audience.

Some conservative media interpreted the response as disapproval of Harrys joke. In reality, the reaction was aimed at Trump himself. Colberts audience has a well-known pattern of reacting strongly to mentions of Trump, and the sketch used that dynamic intentionally. Harrys joke was meant to provoke this response, not to draw criticism at him personally.

The appearance combined light political satire with holiday parody, allowing Harry to lampoon both American Christmas movie culture and his own public persona. He even slipped in a humorous mention of settling a baseless lawsuit with the White House, keeping the commentary firmly in comedic territory.

Far from being awkward, the sketch landed as planned: a mix of festive fun and clever political nods. Harry appeared relaxed and amused, fully engaging with Colberts playful chaos. A gingerbread prince with comedic timing proved to be an unexpected holiday delight.

Author: Olivia Parker