Overview
- Harry delivered a surprise keynote at the British American Business Council of Los Angeles’ 65th Christmas luncheon in Santa Monica, following a comedic Late Show cameo earlier in the week.
- He quipped that growing up in the Royal Family was like Downton Abbey, adding that only one of those worlds has drama, intrigue, elaborate dinners and marriages to Americans.
- He described the transatlantic bond as “deeply personal,” citing his service alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan and reflecting on the upcoming semiquincentennial of U.S. independence.
- He joked about British fans traveling for the 2026 World Cup, playfully referencing getting past U.S. customs and ICE, pubs staying open late, and Americans naming cities after British towns.
- He did not mention Meghan during the speech, while separate reports say her father Thomas Markle Sr. underwent a leg amputation and a spokesperson confirmed she has reached out.