Saturday Night Live UK kicked off its second season by taking aim at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's highly publicized return to England. The cold open, which aired during the season premiere hosted by Jeff Goldblum with musical guest CMAT, depicted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visiting King Charles and Queen Camilla at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
The sketch began with Larry Dean's King Charles II and Emma Sidi's Queen Camilla enjoying a quiet weekend at the royal estate. Camilla remarked, «I do love our weekends away. No responsibilities, just like every other day.» The peace was soon interrupted by the arrival of Jack Shep's Harry and Ayoade Bamgboye's Meghan, who remained locked in a tight embrace throughout the scene.
Charles, visibly frustrated by the intrusion, demanded to know their purpose. «What do you two want? Don't tell me you've spent that Netflix money already,» he asked. Harry replied, «Daddy, it was $16 million. How long was it supposed to last?» The king then delivered a sharp retort that drew a strong reaction from the studio audience: «What a waste you've become, you're lucky your father is not around to see this.»
The skit also poked fun at Meghan's lifestyle brand. When she presented Camilla with an ice tray, she declared, «I made it myself, I can give you the recipe. I'm a whizz in the kitchen,» prompting Harry to add, «She hires the best chefs.»
The couple announced in August that they would be moving back to the UK with their two children for an «extended period» after six years of living in California. The announcement fueled speculation that Markle might return to acting, with reports suggesting she was in talks to join the third season of Netflix's The Gentlemen.
SNL UK, the British spin-off of the long-running American sketch comedy show, debuted on Sky One in March with former SNL US cast member Tina Fey as host and Wet Leg as the musical guest. Since then, celebrities including Jamie Dornan, Riz Ahmed, and Nicola Coughlan have hosted, while musical acts have included Kasabian, Foo Fighters, and MEEK. The show has received a generally warm reception but has also made headlines for its humor. Earlier this year, cast member Ania Magliano responded to controversy surrounding her joke comparing Mark Zuckerberg to Hitler, describing the tech billionaire as «fair game» and saying she was «kind of detached» from online criticism.
Next week's episode, set for September 19, will be hosted by Stath Lets Flats star Jamie Demetriou with Royal Blood as the musical guest. The September 26 show will feature comedian and Chicken Shop Date host Amelia Dimoldenberg, with Rachel Chinouriri providing the musical entertainment.