Prince Harry roasts royal life at Santa Monica Christmas lunch

Prince Harry lit up the British American Business Council’s annual Christmas lunch on Friday in Santa Monica with his trademark wit, serving up laughs at royal life and American culture.

Speaking to over 200 business leaders, the Duke of Sussex joked that growing up in the royal family sometimes felt like living in a real-life Downton Abbey. 

“Only one world is filled with drama, intrigue, elaborate dinners, and marriages to Americans,” he quipped, “the other is a TV show.”

The Duke highlighted the upcoming 250th anniversary of US independence, describing the US-UK “special relationship” as deeply personal, reflecting on his own service alongside American troops in Afghanistan and the centuries-long bond between the nations.

And, he couldn’t resist poking fun at the 2026 World Cup. England and Scotland already qualified, he joked about British fans flooding US breweries and warned that pubs back home could stay open until 1 a.m. 

“What could possibly go wrong?” he mused, earning laughs from the crowd.

The Duke also took a moment to touch on geography, reflecting on the quirky practice of Americans naming cities after British towns. 

He teased Birmingham, Alabama versus Birmingham in England, noting, "Two wonderfully different places you will not find."