The four-minute, 52-second cold open tackled the couple’s relocation from California, their concluded Netflix contract, and long-standing royal tensions.
SNL UK Targets Sussex Finances and Netflix Deal
Saturday Night Live UK opened its second season with a satirical sketch set at a mock Balmoral Castle, featuring actors Jack Shep and Ayoade Bamgboye as Prince Harry and Meghan, alongside Larry Dean as King Charles and Emma Sidi as Queen Camilla, according to Yahoo News.
The fictional narrative hinges on the couple returning to the U.K. and asking the King for financial assistance. King Charles confronts his son over money, asking if he spent his entire production budget, referencing the multi-year contract the Sussexes signed after stepping down as working royals in 2020.
According to People, cited by Yahoo News, that five-year contract officially ended in 2025 after Netflix chose not to renew the deal under the same terms. The partnership yielded projects including the docuseries Harry & Meghan and Meghan’s lifestyle program, With Love, Meghan, which featured products from her lifestyle brand, As Ever. The SNL UK sketch lampooned those business ventures, showing the fictional Meghan gifting Camilla homemade ice.
Public Reception and Press Reaction in the U.K.
The broadcast comedy reflects a broader, highly critical climate across British media regarding the couple’s return.
The couple landed in the U.K. late last month with their children, 7-year-old Prince Archie and 5-year-old Princess Lilibet, plus their two dogs, Mia and Pula, according to the BBC and reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The family is reportedly living in a house in the Cotswolds without traditional royal trappings, keeping their homes in California and Portugal. Both children have enrolled in British schools for the autumn term.
The relocation follows a summer visit where the family spent time with King Charles at Highgrove and with the family of Harry’s mother, Diana, according to a source cited by The Hollywood Reporter. Despite the private trip, tensions stemming from their 2020 departure, Oprah Winfrey interview revelations, and subsequent media scrutiny continue to shape public reaction across the U.K.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Prince Harry and Meghan return to the U.K.?
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a source close to the couple noted they had a wonderful trip overseas during the summer, prompting them to extend their stay. No official reason has been provided by the couple for the relocation.
Where is the family living in the U.K.?
The family is based in a house in the Cotswolds without royal trappings, while retaining their properties in California and Portugal, according to The Hollywood Reporter and the BBC.
Did Netflix renew its deal with the Sussexes?
According to People, cited by Yahoo News, the couple’s five-year contract with Netflix came to an end in 2025 after the streaming platform chose not to renew the agreement under the same terms.
What school are Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet attending?
The children have been enrolled in British schools for the start of the autumn term, though the specific institutions have not been publicly shared, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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