On Today Show Australia, host Karl Stefanovic delivered a memorable commentary on Prince Harry’s ongoing struggles, painting a vivid picture of the Duke’s metaphorical "fall from grace."
Stefanovic’s remarks came amidst King Charles III’s tour of Australia, where the monarch charmed crowds with his characteristic warmth. However, Karl couldn’t resist taking a playful jab at Harry’s current troubles. Meanwhile, during King Charles’s visit to Canberra, Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe made headlines by heckling the King in a very public protest.
Thorpe interrupted the visit with a loud outburst at the Parliament House, launching into a heated tirade that lasted nearly a minute before security intervened. Despite the commotion, Karl defended the monarch, telling viewers, “You don’t have to like the King, but give him a break after everything he’s been through these past few years.” The Today Show host empathized with the King’s struggles, noting that as a father, witnessing the strained relationship between his sons must be deeply painful.
Karl didn’t stop there. He acknowledged the challenges King Charles faces with his eldest son, Prince William, who has been dealing with his wife’s recent cancer diagnosis, alongside his responsibilities as Prince of Wales. “Imagine the mental and physical toll of that joint battle,” Karl mused. He praised King Charles for continuing to fulfill his royal duties despite these hardships, demonstrating a sincere fondness for Australia and its people. Karl remarked on the King’s dedication, as Charles immediately began meeting Australians upon arriving, despite the emotional weight he carries.
Thorpe’s protest, delivered while she wore sacred traditional attire, was met with characteristic calm by King Charles. Even as she shouted obscenities, the King maintained his composure, embracing the royal mantra of “keep calm and carry on.” He even shared a chuckle with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before stepping outside to meet the gathered crowd. The day took an even stranger turn when the King encountered an alpaca—an animal known for its luxurious fleece and tendency to spit. As fate would have it, the alpaca did indeed spit on the monarch. Yet, both King Charles and Queen Camilla continued to smile, laughing off the incident.
Reflecting on the bizarre scene, Karl admired the King’s grace under pressure, contrasting the royal couple’s good-natured response with how he imagined Harry and Meghan might react. He humorously speculated that the Sussexes would pen a heartfelt essay lamenting the “traumatizing encounter” and perhaps accuse the alpaca of bullying. “Can you imagine Harry and Meghan?” Karl quipped. “With their extremely thin skin, they’d probably blame the alpaca for being a bully and a racist.”
But the highlight of Karl’s commentary was his metaphor for Harry’s troubles. He likened the Duke’s declining public image to a piece of cheese—“a sad, brightly colored, plastic-wrapped cheese adjacent concoction.” Stefanovic’s comparison suggested that Harry’s actions resemble something artificial and disheartening, rather than authentic and substantial. As Karl concluded, he couldn’t help but admire King Charles and Queen Camilla’s resilience, contrasting their carefree embrace of rural life with Harry and Meghan’s perceived discontent. “While Harry and Meghan wallow, Charles and Camilla are just over here loving the country life, treating alpaca shenanigans like a regular Tuesday,” he remarked.
