Prince Harry playfully interrupted Stephen Colbert’s late-night monologue, pretending he was auditioning for a Hallmark holiday movie.
Of course, it was a joke but Harry, 41, was game for the bit.
During his Late Show monologue on Wednesday, December 3, Colbert, 61, joked to the studio audience about the flood of TV movies with royal-themed plots, including Crown Prince of Christmas, The Royal We, and A Royal Icing Christmas.
“Now, as a Catholic, I was always taught that the crown prince of Christmas was Jesus Christ,” Colbert quipped. “But apparently now, it’s TV movie actor Jilon VanOver. Sorry, Jesus. Should’ve booked that walk-on role in NCIS: Los Angeles. Now, folks, as much as I love these holiday movies and I do I think they’re problematic because they give people the unrealistic expectation that during the holiday season, they’re just going to bump into some prince at their job.”
At that moment, Prince Harry stepped onstage, prompting the audience to give a standing ovation.
“It’s Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales-Sussex! What are you doing here?” Colbert asked.
“Sorry, I genuinely thought this was the audition for The Gingerbread Prince Saves Christmas in Nebraska,” Harry said, fully committing to the bit.
Colbert responded, “That sounds fantastic, but you’re an actual prince. Why would you want to be in one of these movies?”
“Well, you Americans are obsessed with Christmas movies and you’re obsessed with royalty, so why not?” Harry replied.
Colbert denied that Americans had an obsession.
“Really? I heard you ‘elected’ a king,” Harry shot back, prompting Colbert to concede, “That’s a fair point.”
With mock desperation, Harry continued, “Listen, what’s a real prince got to do to get into a Hallmark movie? … I got skills. I can ride a horse. I can fly a helicopter. I can ride a horse and a helicopter.”
Colbert reminded Harry that success in Hollywood often relies on connections, asking if he knew “any famous TV actresses” a wink at his wife, Meghan Markle who could help.
“I mean, I might know one,” Harry said. “But listen, Stephen, I’ll do anything.”
Colbert suggested he “practice helping Americans reconnect with what they love about Christmas.”
Suddenly, Christmas trees and a snowman appeared onstage, and snow began to fall, lifting Harry’s spirits.
“Do you see what’s happening? Can you hear the sleigh bells?” Harry asked.
Colbert quipped, “Yeah, it’s probably one of those Central Park horses having a seizure.”
“Stephen, you just have to believe!” Harry said. “Doesn’t this prove that anything can happen? Minutes ago, you said it was impossible. But look isn’t there a handsome prince standing in front of you right now?”
Apologizing, Colbert told Harry, “I know you want this, but I’m afraid I have to say … I was testing you: You’ve got the role.”
The Duke of Sussex has been making the rounds on TV. Earlier Wednesday, he appeared in With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, which premiered on Netflix that day. In the special, he enjoyed an early Christmas Eve dinner prepared by Meghan, including extra-spicy gumbo.
“I can feel it puncturing through the top of my head right now,” Harry said while tasting the dish. “It is delicious. I’m not so sure it’s as good as your mom’s, but it’s certainly close.”
