SNL U.K. Cold Open Roasts Harry and Meghan's Return to Britain
The season premiere's cold open featured impersonations of King Charles II and Queen Camilla at Balmoral, mocking the royal couple's recent visit. A joke referenced their Netflix spending, asking if they'd used up all their money. The sketch is part of the show's satirical take on current events.
The cold open leans on the familiar satirical device of placing royals in mundane settings, contrasting their public image with private banter. The sketch’s Netflix joke directly references the couple’s reported multi-year deal with the streaming service, a recurring topic in British media coverage of their post-royal careers. By setting the scene at Balmoral, the show taps into the symbolic weight of the Scottish estate as a backdrop for royal family tensions, a theme that has fueled tabloid narratives since Harry’s memoir and subsequent interviews. The impersonations of King Charles and Queen Camilla also highlight the show’s reliance on recognizable public figures to anchor its comedy.
This sketch could reinforce existing public perceptions of Harry and Meghan as financially driven or out of touch, particularly among audiences already skeptical of their media ventures. Conversely, it may also invite sympathy, as satire often humanizes its targets by placing them in relatable, if exaggerated, situations. The show’s format, replicating the U.S. original, may shape how British viewers engage with royal commentary, potentially normalizing a more irreverent tone toward the monarchy. Its impact likely remains limited to entertainment discourse, but it could subtly influence ongoing debates about the couple’s public role and the royal family’s image.