SNL UK Roasts Harry and Meghan's UK Return, Questions His Paternity and Mocks Netflix Deal

A royal homecoming has become comedy material for Saturday Night Live UK, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's return to Britain turned into a pointed sketch about family ties, money and one of the longest-running rumours surrounding the Duke of Sussex.

The season two premiere imagined the couple arriving at Balmoral, where King Charles and Queen Camilla are enjoying a weekend away, and the scene shifted into jokes about Harry's paternity, the Sussexes' finances and their Netflix deal.

SNL UK Turns Harry and Meghan's Return Into a Royal Money Joke

In the sketch, Jack Shep plays Harry and Ayoade Bamgboye portrays Meghan, while Larry Dean appears as King Charles and Emma Sidi as Queen Camilla.

The fictional Sussexes interrupt the royal couple's stay at Balmoral after deciding to move back to the UK.

The actress playing Meghan tells the fictional King Charles, 'We're moving back to the UK and we need your help.' King Charles responds: 'Don't tell me you've spent all your Netflix money already.'

Harry, played by Shep, replies that their Netflix deal is only $60 million in the sketch and asks Charles how long he thinks it will last before requesting 'a duchy or two.'

The Long-Running Rumour About Prince Harry's Paternity

The parody also folds the old paternity rumour into its comedy, with Dean's portrayal of King Charles telling Shep's Prince Harry that he has become a 'waste' and adding, 'You're lucky your father isn't around to see this.' The actor playing Harry then appears surprised and asks, 'What? What?'

Prince Harry's paternity rumour has circulated for decades, partly because of his red hair and perceived resemblance to former British Army officer James Hewitt, who was romantically involved with Princess Diana.

The claim that Hewitt fathered Harry has never been substantiated and has been denied by Hewitt, while the reported timeline of their relationship contradicts the claim.

Hewitt said: 'There really is no possibility whatsoever that I am Harry's father.' He also said Harry was 'already walking' when he started seeing Princess Diana, while Diana's former protection officer Ken Wharfe has also said the dates did not support the claim.

Harry's red hair has nevertheless continued to fuel speculation, despite red hair also being present in the Spencer family. The rumour remains unsubstantiated.

Harry and Meghan's Netflix Deal Changed After Their Royal Exit

Harry and Meghan left their roles as senior working royals in 2020 and moved to California, where they pursued commercial and media projects. Their original Netflix agreement, reported at £78 million ($100 million), was signed that year through their production company, Archewell Productions.

The partnership covered documentaries, scripted series, films and lifestyle programming, including Harry & Meghan, Live to Lead, Heart of Invictus, Polo and Meghan's lifestyle series With Love, Meghan. The original five-year arrangement was replaced by a new multi-year first-look agreement.

In August 2025, Netflix announced a new multi-year first-look agreement with Archewell Productions, giving the streamer priority to consider the company's film and television projects rather than continuing the original overall deal. The financial terms of the new agreement were not disclosed.

The new partnership also included further With Love, Meghan content, a holiday special, the documentary short Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within and the film adaptation Meet Me at the Lake. Netflix said Archewell remained in active development on additional projects.

Harry and Meghan returned to the UK with their children in August for an extended stay and are now based in a private residence in Britain while retaining their California home.

The SNL UK sketch uses that development as its premise, but its jokes about money and paternity are satire rather than evidence of financial difficulty or a change in Harry's parentage.