Prince Harry 'was in discussions to host SNL' before 'talks stalled'

Prince Harry ‘was in discussions to host SNL’ during whirlwind US book tour before ‘talks stalled at 11th hour’

• The Duke of Sussex was close to hosting the iconic NBC late-night show on his promotional US book tour 
• Producers at the studio are still keen to get the royal on screen and haven’t ruled out the possibility of putting him in a sketch 
• Harry was ‘all in’ on the idea but instead went on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and CBS 60 Minutes to discuss his memoir  

Prince Harry was in ‘serious’ talks to host Saturday Night Live in the run-up to the January release of his memoir – but talks stalled at the final hurdle.

The Duke of Sussex was on a whirlwind TV tour talking about Spare before publication and went on a number of high-profile US shows.

Producers on the long-running NBC show were keen to get the royal on board, with Harry, 38, described as being ‘all in’.

It is unclear what caused the discussions to stop, with many sources telling PageSix saying that people would have ‘definitely tuned in’.

One industry insider said: ‘I know that Harry was all in. He was really serious about doing it — and it would have been great fun as promo for the book.

 Producers on the long-running NBC show were keen to get the royal on board, with Harry, 38, described as being ‘all in’

The Duke of Sussex was on a whirlwind TV tour talking about Spare before publication and went on a number of high-profile US shows 

‘SNL producers have been after Harry for a while. Everyone on the show was really into the idea, and people would definitely have tuned in.’

Another confirmed the talks, adding: ‘There’s always lots of names in the mix, but Harry was definitely a name being discussed.’

Lorne Michaels, creator and producer of the iconic show, would reportedly still love to have Harry on the show even if it isn’t to discuss his book.

A third inside said that they could see the royal dad-of-two appearing as a ‘surprise in a sketch’ rather than hosting.

NBC did not respond to a request for comment when contacted by DailyMail.com.

Harry instead appeared on CBS ’60 Minutes’ and the Late Show with Stephen Colbert – but instead spoke in front of a ‘hand selected’ audience of veterans.

SNL has a long history of mocking the royal family, with Fred Armisen often playing the late Queen Elizabeth as a cockney mob boss.

Bill Hader also regularly played Prince Phillip, Harry’s grandfather, while Martin Short appeared in a 2012 sketch set to mimic the Princess of Wales’s first ob-gyn appointment.

Harry appeared on a host of shows in the US, including the Late Show with Stephen Colbert to promote the book  

Harry was ‘all in’ on the idea but instead went on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and CBS 60 Minutes to discuss his memoir

Anne Hathaway performed as Kate Middleton during the skit, with the show poking fun at Harry and the royals again.

James Austin Anderson and Devon Walker played two ‘British Rappers’ and former Eton schoolmates who they dubbed ‘Milly Pounds’ and ‘Shirty’.

They were asked to give an update on the royal family, and replied: Right, right, OK, listen, mate. 

‘OK, all the focus is on the royals when it should be on Britain’s exploitative tabloid press. It’s pants, mate. Rubbish. Pants.’

Johnson added: ‘They’re mean to our boy Harry, all right. We know what really goes down. We’ve known Harry since our days at Eton.’

Austin then began to rap: ‘Prince Harry, Prince Harry, stayed over at Tyler Perry’s. Press cold like Ben and Jerry’s. I’m allergic to dairy.’

Walker, as ‘Shirty,’ continued: ‘Harry and Meghan, Ronald Reagan, interracial dating, Queen said, ‘Not today, Satan’.’

Harry and Meghan were seen together for the first time since they attended the RFK Ripple of Hope Award in New York in December at the birthday party of Portia de Rossi 

Kris Jenner officiated the renewals, which surprised the former talk show host

It comes after Harry and Meghan Markle were seen together for the first time since his bombshell memoir was published.

They celebrated the surprise vow renewal of their close friends and neighbors, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi.

Harry and Meghan were at opposite ends of the group, which included Brandi Carlile, and other friends and family of the celebrity couple.

It is the first time that the couple has been seen together since appearing at the RFK Ripple of Hope Award in New York in December.

Meghan, 41, has been keeping an unusually low profile compared to her husband, who went on a whirlwind publication tour for his memoir Spare in January.

Ellen, 65, appeared stunned as Portia entered the room wearing a wedding dress – and called her wife the ‘greatest gift’ for the surprise.

Meghan Markle had reportedly raised ‘gentle concerns’ about Harry’s decision to release Spare and was worried if it was the right move

She has been keeping a low profile compared to her husband, who went on a whirlwind publication tour for his memoir Spare in January

The couple has been married since 2008 and recently moved into the new Montecito mansion, which is just a stone’s throw from the $14million home of Harry and Meghan.

The Suits actress’ close relationship with Ellen is not a secret – with her appearing on the show in 2021.

She opened up about her life in California with Harry and their two children Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1, as well as taking part in a cringe-worthy prank.

During her surprise appearance on the final season of Ellen’s talk show, the duchess stepped outside the studio to pull a prank on a vendor trio.

It meant that she was forced to do and say whatever the talk show host told her to via a hidden earpiece.

Meghan approached the first vendor and began inspecting the crystals on their stall before Ellen instructed her to hold on to her head and begin groaning and moaning.

As part of the prank she was forced to swig from a baby bottle and meow like a cat in the toe-curling prank.

Meghan, 41, has been keeping an unusually low profile compared to her husband, who went on a whirlwind publication tour for his memoir Spare in January 

The Sussexes have been a constant presence in U.S. media since moving to the country, beginning with their explosive March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey

Meghan allegedly stayed away during Harry’s promo tour because she would have been accused of ‘trying to steal the limelight’ 

In January the Duke appeared on a whole host of shows including 60 Minutes and Good Morning America as well as The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to promote the book.

But following its release the couple’s popularity was hit on both sides of the Atlantic.

Harry’s wife Meghan Markle had reportedly raised ‘gentle concerns’ about Harry’s decision to release Spare and was worried if it was the right move.

The 41-year-old is said to have expressed worries that the book could ruffle feathers.

The royal couple are known for putting on a united front, including during the incendiary interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.

Harry was also in the audience with schoolchildren in New York when Meghan promoted her book The Bench.

But as Harry released his explosive memoir, which slams his family and reveals that he killed 25 Taliban fighters, Meghan has been notably absent from any promotion or interviews.

She allegedly stayed away because she would have been accused of ‘trying to steal the limelight’ – but also ‘media-savvy’ Meghan may have raised gentle concerns about whether the book was the right move.

Meghan was also notably absent from the birthday party of Oprah Winfrey – despite the pair being close friends and also neighbors.

Some of the many A-listers in attendance included Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Rita Wilson, Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum, among others.

Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time on the day of its release, topping sales charts around the world – including in the U.S., according to its publisher.

In it Harry made explosive revelations and allegations about members of his family, most noticeably his brother Prince William, rocking the House of Windsor.

It has also put in jeopardy the family’s chance to set aside their differences at the coronation of King Charles III later this year.

In the memoir, Prince Harry alleged that his brother shoved him into a dog’s bowl during a heated row after he began dating Meghan, leaving it in ‘pieces’.

He claimed he could tell Prince William wanted him to hit him back, but he refused to do so. He added his brother later apologized.

He also revealed personal details such as how he lost his virginity to an older woman in a field behind a pub.

In his new book, Harry claims members of the royal household regularly briefed to the press, including for negative articles about Meghan.

Harry has been criticized for sharing private conversations in the book, and intimate details about his family members.

However, the prince claimed there are many other details he has chosen not to share because ‘I just don’t want the world to know’, adding his family might not ‘ever forgive’ him if he did so.

Harry has since challenged his family members to speak with him and apologize to Meghan, though it is not clear what for.

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