Prince Harry has taken aim at Donald Trump’s immigration policies for the second time in a matter of days, delivering a pointed joke about ICE agents during a surprise appearance at a British American Business Council event in Los Angeles.
The Duke of Sussex served as the guest speaker at the organization’s 65th Anniversary Christmas Luncheon on Friday, Dec. 6, 2025, held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. Before an audience of 200 business leaders, the 41-year-old royal warned British football fans planning to attend the 2026 World Cup that they would need to behave and get through customs and past ICE to make it into the country, sparking laughter throughout the room.
The timing of Harry’s remarks proved particularly notable, as the 2026 World Cup draw occurred that same day. With England and Scotland already qualified for the tournament and Wales and Northern Ireland facing playoff matches, Harry’s comments about football fans drew strong reactions from the crowd.
Immigration and border enforcement have become central pillars of Trump’s administration, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement playing a leading role in deportation operations across the country. The president has made aggressive enforcement of immigration laws a signature policy, making Harry’s jest about ICE agents particularly pointed given the political climate.
The Friday speech represented Harry’s second public jab at the president in just 48 hours. On Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, Harry appeared on Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show” where he claimed America had “elected a King” in reference to Trump. That particular gag drew boos from the television audience before Harry pivoted to criticizing CBS for settling a lawsuit with Trump.
Harry’s willingness to mock Trump publicly stands in contrast to the president’s past statements about the Duke and his wife, Meghan Markle. Trump has previously ruled out deporting Harry from the United States despite ongoing controversy over the prince’s visa application and whether he properly disclosed past drug use detailed in his memoir. The president dismissed deportation calls, stating he would leave Harry alone, and Trump called Meghan “terrible.”
The British American Business Council event featured Harry in a more jovial mood overall, with the prince delivering several lighthearted jokes about U.S. independence and British-American relations. He joked about American independence from Britain and more specifically, independence from his ancestors. The prince said he doesn’t take it personally when Americans celebrate their independence from British rule.
In another moment that drew laughs, Harry referenced “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes, one of the event’s honorees. When asked if growing up in the royal family resembled the popular period drama, Harry joked that only one world is filled with drama, intrigue, elaborate dinners, marriages to Americans while the other is a TV show. A source at the event said, “He said he was often asked if the Royal Family has similarities with the hit period telly programme, and quipped one is full of drama — and the other is a TV show.”
Harry’s appearance at the event coincided with news that Meghan had reached out to her father, Thomas Markle, who is hospitalized in the Philippines following leg amputation surgery. The 81-year-old underwent the procedure after becoming ill at his home earlier in the week. The Duchess of Sussex’s spokesman confirmed, “I can confirm she has reached out to her father.” However, Harry made no mention of his father-in-law’s health situation during his Friday remarks.
The prince’s recent public appearances have generated mixed reactions, with some viewing his political commentary as inappropriate for someone with royal connections, while others see him as exercising his right to free speech as a private citizen residing in California. Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and have since built independent lives in the United States, though their relationship with the broader royal family remains strained.
Approximately a month before the Business Council event, Harry attended a Los Angeles Dodgers game thanks to an invitation from team co-owner Mark Walter. The baseball team owner has faced ongoing protests due to financial ties to ICE detention centers and deportation flights, adding another layer of complexity to Harry’s recent jokes about immigration enforcement. Trump has not yet publicly responded to either of Harry’s recent jokes at his expense.
