The beloved host of The Late Show launched into a swift and scathing critique of Meghan Markle’s latest move, wasting no time in condemning what many saw as yet another calculated publicity stunt.
Her attempt to liken herself to Princess Catherine, the Princess of Wales, had already drawn disapproval in private circles. But Stephen Colbert didn’t keep that discontent behind closed doors. He brought it front and center, openly mocking, dismissing, and denouncing her with a sharpness that only he could wield.
“You don’t just get to be Kate Middleton,” he quipped, dramatically tossing aside his cue cards. “That’s not something you audition for.” Known more for his political satire than for engaging in royal gossip, Colbert made an uncharacteristic but deliberate dive into the fray. Meghan’s interview had featured subtle statements that seemed designed to mirror Catherine’s poise, grace, and deep sense of duty—a portrayal Colbert labeled as a delusional rewrite of the truth.
The audience responded with a blend of laughter and stunned silence as Colbert paused, then delivered another pointed jab: “It’s like walking into a Shakespeare play with a reality TV résumé and wondering why you’re not the star of the show.” What lit the fuse wasn’t just the comparison itself, but the air of entitlement that accompanied it. In her recent podcast, Meghan described herself as resilient in the face of institutional pressure in Britain—a statement that clearly echoed the real and visible grace Princess Catherine has maintained through her own trials. Colbert, visibly irked, shot back with, “There’s pressure, and then there’s service. One of them stands in the rain shaking hands with veterans. The other signs a Spotify deal to talk about herself.”
The mood in the studio shifted from humor to confrontation. Colbert began outlining a familiar pattern—Meghan’s repeated efforts to align herself with the image of royal nobility while rejecting the actual responsibility that comes with it. “If you spend five minutes tearing down the monarchy, then another five trying on its tiara, what exactly are we doing here?” he asked. The crowd erupted. It wasn’t just amusing—it hit with brutal clarity.
Then came the most piercing line of the night. “Want to be Princess Kate? Then stop playing the victim. When the cameras turn off, Kate still shows up. You, on the other hand, show off.” That remark ignited social media. Clips of the monologue quickly went viral, widely praised as a takedown that struck a global nerve. Meghan’s supporters scrambled to defend her, but even regular viewers were taken aback by the stark contrast Colbert had drawn: one woman who quietly earned her respect, and another who seemed to court admiration only when the spotlight suited her.
Behind the scenes, Meghan’s PR team had reportedly been planning a media campaign to reclaim her public image. But Colbert’s commentary had already reshaped that narrative in a way no consultant could undo. “We’ve got to stop pretending she was pushed out,” he said in a follow-up segment. “She left—and now she’s just mad nobody’s clapping for the exit.”
Adding to the fire, Colbert rolled footage of Princess Catherine from recent public appearances—hospital visits, military ceremonies, charity events for children—underscoring the divide. “This,” he said, “is what royalty looks like when it’s not on vacation.” The implication was unmistakable. One shows up, puts in the work, and shares carefully curated photos. The other calls it bravery.
The backlash from Meghan’s side was swift, if quiet. According to insiders, there was a behind-the-scenes effort to reach out to The Late Show team, possibly to ask for clarification or even a retraction. But Colbert was unmoved. “If she wants to explain anything,” he said, “maybe start with why she keeps using other women’s legacies as her personal elevator.”
His words didn’t just resonate with the public. Prominent voices from the entertainment and journalism industries weighed in, echoing his sentiments and, in many cases, adding pointed critiques of their own.
