Prince Harry and Meghan Markle found themselves at the receiving end of mockery during an opening monologue on Saturday Night Live.

Comedian duo Steve Martin and Martin Short took jabs at the Sussexes, who have been vocal about their struggles with the British media, racial bias within the royal family, and dealing with the paparazzi in their Netflix docuseries.

However, their actions also triggered a backlash.

During the monologue, Steve Martin celebrated his impressive 16 times hosting the show, compared to Martin Short’s three.

Drawing a parallel, Martin jokingly stated, “We’re like Harry and Meghan, no one’s rooting for us, but you’ll tune in to watch anyway.”

The banter continued as Martin praised Short behind his back, with Short adding, “Well, I added the word entertainer.”

Martin’s remark highlighted the paradox of viewership despite not necessarily supporting the Sussexes.

This is not the first time Saturday Night Live has taken a dig at the couple.

In April 2022, Colin Jost mocked them while discussing Elon Musk’s involvement with Twitter, stating, “Come on, Elon built electric cars, he’s going to Mars, why is he even involving himself with Twitter?

It would be like if the Prince of England gave it all up just to marry an actor from Suits.”

According to royal author Valentin Lowe, who recently returned from the United States after promoting his book on the royal family, support for Harry and Meghan seems to be dwindling.

Conversations on the ground, as well as polling data, indicate that Americans are growing tired of the Sussex narrative.

Lowe expressed his impression, saying, “I get the impression, having been in the states, they’ve lost some of that popularity.”

He described their accounts of life within the royal family as a “whinge-a-thon.”

Polling conducted after the release of Prince Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” which revealed several bombshell revelations about royal life, supports Lowe’s observations.

The Duke’s favorability rating dropped by 45 points, from 38 in December to minus 7 in January.

In a Newsweek poll, 44% of Americans surveyed felt that Harry shouldn’t have disclosed private family conversations, while only 26% supported his decision.

Even after Harry’s criticism of his stepmother, Queen Consort Camilla, Meghan was found to be considerably less popular than her.

Since the publication of the memoir, Harry has faced challenges regarding the authenticity of his account.

While some criticized him for misrepresenting facts, others blamed him for breaching privacy.

Royal author Angela Levin accused the Duke of Sussex of being a bully over the past two years and expressed surprise at his decision to disclose private matters in his memoir, considering his preference for privacy.

Levin accused him of seeking revenge against the royal family through his actions.

Levin also highlighted the difficult position of King Charles, stating that despite his wish to have his son present on a historic day, his distinguished position must take priority.

As the controversy surrounding Harry’s memoir continues, it remains to be seen how the public’s perception of the couple will evolve and whether their support will further dwindle.