“Saturday Night Live UK” lampooned Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to Britain in its Season 2 premiere, with a sketch suggesting their move was prompted by financial concerns after their lucrative Netflix deal expired.
The sketch opens with actors portraying the Duke and Duchess of Sussex arriving at Balmoral Castle to visit King Charles III and Queen Camilla. In the scene, Prince Harry, played by Jack Shep, addresses his father, saying, “Daddy, I’m home.” The King, portrayed by Larry Dean, immediately asks, “Don’t tell me you’ve spent all your Netflix money already,” to which Harry responds, “It was $60 million. How long was it meant to last?”
Queen Camilla, played by Emma Sidi, interjects with a comment about Meghan’s appearance, remarking, “And beautiful Meghan, as brown as ever.” This line references past accusations made by the couple during an interview with Oprah Winfrey that a member of the royal family had inquired about the potential skin tone of their son, Archie. At the time, these claims were refuted by Prince William, who stated the royal family is “very much not a racist family,” and by the late Queen Elizabeth II, who expressed concern over the issues raised.
In the skit, Meghan, played by Ayoade Bamgboye, offers King Charles a gift, saying, “It’s ice. I made it myself. I can give you the recipe. I’m kind of a wiz in the kitchen.” The dialogue alludes to Markle’s ventures into lifestyle content creation and her Emmy-nominated Netflix show, “With Love, Meghan.” Prince Harry chimes in, adding, “She hires the best cooks.”
The sketch also features a cameo by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, played by George Fouracres, who delivers a joke about the couple's perceived status as "normal folk."
News of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's potential return to the UK for their children, Archie and Lilibet, to attend an upscale prep school emerged last month. While some sources speculated that financial reasons were a significant factor, others suggested the move was motivated by a desire to be closer to Prince Harry’s father and to strengthen family relationships for their children.
The couple signed a multi-year deal with Netflix after stepping down as working royals in 2020. This partnership resulted in several productions, including Markle's lifestyle series and the documentary “Harry & Meghan.” However, the initial five-year contract concluded in September 2025, with Netflix not opting for renewal. Archewell Productions, their company, has since entered into a new "multi-year, first-look" agreement with the streaming service, which reportedly offers Netflix a preliminary option on new projects from the couple. An insider described the new arrangement as "not much" and "no risk for Netflix but saves them both reputationally."