“Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Face Mockery on Saturday Night Live”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle found themselves at the center of comedic ridicule during a recent episode of Saturday Night Live.

Comedian Steve Martin and Martin Short took aim at the couple during their opening monologue, poking fun at the Sussexes' accusations of racism within the British media and their struggles with the paparazzi.

The duo also highlighted the couple's claims of unconscious racial bias within the royal family, as depicted in their highly anticipated Netflix docuseries.

Adding to the backlash, Meghan re-enacted an exaggerated curtsy she claimed to have performed when first meeting Queen Elizabeth II, drawing comparisons to medieval times and questioning the relevance of certain royal traditions.

As the opening monologue unfolded, Steve Martin celebrated his impressive 16-time hosting record on the show, playfully suggesting that he and Martin Short were like Harry and Meghan – not garnering much support, yet still drawing viewership.

Martin Short then playfully targeted Martin, joking about how the cast of the show secretly admires him for being a complete entertainer.

Martin responded with a sweet remark, and Short clarified his statement, acknowledging that he added the word “entertainer.”

Nevertheless, Martin's observation about viewers tuning in to watch the series despite not necessarily supporting the Sussexes struck a chord.

This is not the first time Saturday Night Live has taken jabs at the Sussexes.

In April 2022, Colin Jost humorously questioned Elon Musk's involvement with Twitter, comparing it to the Prince of England giving up everything for an actor from Suits.

These comedic moments reflect a growing sentiment of dwindling support for Harry and Meghan in the United States, according to royal author Valentin Lowe.

Lowe, who recently returned from a trip to the US to promote his new book on the royal family, noted that conversations on the ground align with polling data indicating a waning interest in the Sussex narrative.

Lowe expressed his impression, stating that their accounts of life within the royal family came across as a constant stream of complaints.

Recent polling further supports this observation.

A survey conducted among 2,000 eligible US voters six days after the release of Prince Harry's memoir, Spare, revealed a significant drop in the Duke's favorability rating.

It plummeted from 38 points in December to a staggering minus 7 in January.

The poll also indicated that 44% of Americans felt Harry should not have revealed private family conversations, compared to 26% who supported his decision.

Meghan's popularity did not fare much better.

Despite Harry's criticism of his stepmother, Queen Consort Camilla, in the book, Meghan was found to be considerably less popular than Camilla.

The release of the memoir has prompted challenges to the authenticity of Harry's account.

While some royalists accused him of misrepresenting facts, others criticized him for breaching privacy boundaries.

Royal author Angela Levin recently accused Prince Harry of being a bully over the past two years.

In Spare, alongside his love story with Meghan Markle, the Duke openly mocked royal palace staff members and divulged numerous details about the royal family.

Levin expressed surprise at the contradiction between Harry's preference for privacy and his willingness to expose private matters in his memoir.

She accused him of seeking revenge against the royal family by behaving like a bully.

In a previous op-ed, Levin also discussed the difficult position of King Charles amidst the controversy.

She believes that despite the King's desire to have his son present on historic occasions, his duty to uphold his distinguished position must take precedence.

As the scrutiny surrounding Harry's memoir continues, it remains to be seen how these revelations will impact the perception of the Sussexes both in the US and abroad.