In 2020, amidst the privacy turmoil following Harry and Meghan’s decision to step down as senior royals, the British TV show Spitting Image joined the chorus of those poking fun at the couple.
Known for its exaggerated puppets enacting outlandish scenarios, one skit featured Harry holding a box of crowns, humorously asking Meghan if they could be recycled.
Meghan, portrayed in a satirical light, directs him to toss them on the goodwill pile, cleverly mirroring their departure from royal responsibilities.
American talk show host Jimmy Fallon has also seized opportunities to jest about Harry and Meghan.
After Harry’s interview promoting his memoir Spare, Fallon quipped about the familiarity of their story, playfully alluding to their numerous previous appearances in interviews and documentaries.
By humorously referencing the couple’s extensive media presence, Fallon highlighted the perceived repetitiveness of their public narrative.
Channel 4’s satirical series, The Windsors, which humorously depicts the British royal family, didn’t spare Harry and Meghan in its storyline.
In a scene, Harry is shown offering a producer a knighthood in exchange for assistance in finding work for Meghan.
However, Meghan’s character, portrayed as independent and ambitious, rejects the idea of leveraging her royal connections for success, emphasizing her desire to achieve based on merit alone.
The trend of openly mocking Harry and Meghan gained traction following several notable incidents.
Criticism escalated significantly after figures like Bill Simmons branded them as “effing grifters,” signaling a shift from the relatively restrained critiques previously directed at the couple.
Public and media mockery intensified post-events like the New York City car chase and the South Park episode, with Simmons’s candid remarks marking a pivotal moment that emboldened broader satire.
The evolving landscape of satire has transformed Harry and Meghan into regular subjects of humor and criticism, diverging sharply from the earlier guardedness exhibited by commentators like Piers Morgan.
Morgan faced backlash for his skepticism regarding Meghan’s assertions during the Oprah interview, underscoring the polarizing nature of discussions surrounding the couple.