Stephen Colbert Appears Remorseful Over Kate Middleton Skit After Cancer Diagnosis: “When I Made Those Jokes, That Upset Some People”

Stephen Colbert has acknowledged that his skit about Kate Middleton upset people in a downbeat monologue following the Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnosis.

The Late Show host dedicated two minutes to Middleton on Monday’s episode, saying that jokes he made about Prince William having an affair did not go down well with some viewers.

“There’s a standard that I try to hold myself to, and that is I do not make light of somebody else’s tragedy,” Colbert said. “Far too many of us know that any cancer diagnosis of any kind is harrowing for the patient and for their family.”

He added: “Though I’m sure they don’t need it from me, I and everyone here at The Late Showwould like to extend our well wishes and heartfelt hope that her recovery is swift and thorough.”

His comments follow the March 13 episode of The Late Show in which Colbert asked if Middleton had gone missing because her husband was cheating. The comments gave oxygen to wild conspiracy theories circulating on social media.

“The Kingdom has been all a flutter about the seeming disappearance of Kate Middleton,” Colbert said. “Well now, internet sleuths are guessing that Kate’s absence may be related to her husband, and the future King of England, William, having an affair.”

He named Rose Hanbury as being the woman at the center of the speculation, which first emerged in 2019. “According to tabloids back then, when Kate supposedly confronted him about it, he laughed it off, saying there was nothing to it,” Colbert said. “Always a good response when you’re wife accuses you of cheating.”

Hanbury has denied the affair rumors and her legal representatives wrote to CBS to make clear that the allegations were false. Her attorney told In Touch: “The rumor appears to have entered into the mainstream media recently as a result of another joke made about it on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. We have written on our client’s behalf to CBS and various other reputable media organizations to confirm that the allegation is false.”