Prince Harry Sparks Laughter With Cringeworthy American Accent — and Gets Mercilessly Teased by Podcaster Over His ‘Budget’ TK Maxx Shopping Habits
Prince Harry is once again the talk of both sides of the Atlantic — but this time, not for a royal scandal or Netflix project. The Duke of Sussex has gone viral after adopting what fans are calling a “cringeworthy” American accent during a recent podcast appearance, where he was also teased by the host about his love for TK Maxx — the UK discount retailer once beloved by bargain-hunting Brits.
The moment unfolded during an episode of a popular U.S. podcast, when Harry — who’s been living in California since stepping back from royal duties — slipped into an exaggerated American twang while joking about life in the States. The change in his accent was so noticeable that the host burst into laughter, joking, “Careful, Harry, you’re sounding more Beverly Hills than Buckingham Palace these days!”
Listeners immediately caught on, flooding social media with memes, edits, and good-natured mockery. One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, “Prince Harry doing an American accent is my Roman Empire — I can’t stop thinking about it.” Another joked, “From Windsor to Walmart energy — he’s fully assimilated.”
But the laughter didn’t stop there. The host then ribbed Harry about his famously modest shopping habits, bringing up a viral story from a few years back where the Duke admitted he used to shop at TK Maxx for casual clothes. “Do you still pop into TK Maxx when you’re back in London?” the host teased. “Or is it all Rodeo Drive now?”
Harry reportedly took the banter in stride, laughing off the comment and saying he’s “always been one for a good deal.” But fans couldn’t resist weighing in online. “The idea of a prince shopping in TK Maxx while doing an American accent is the funniest thing I’ve heard all week,” one user wrote, while another quipped, “Somewhere, King Charles just shuddered.”
Body language experts and royal watchers have long noted Harry’s increasingly American mannerisms since relocating to Montecito with Meghan Markle. From his more relaxed posture to his West Coast phrases — “awesome,” “totally,” and “you guys” — it’s clear the Duke has adapted to his new surroundings. But this latest viral moment has reignited debates over just how far he’s distanced himself from his British roots.
“Harry’s accent shift is perfectly natural,” explained one linguistics expert to The Daily Telegraph. “When you immerse yourself in another culture, your speech changes subconsciously. But the fact that people find it ‘cringeworthy’ shows how much of his identity is still tied to being a quintessentially British royal.”
Still, the playful teasing — and Harry’s ability to laugh at himself — seemed to win over even his critics. One fan summed it up perfectly: “He might sound a little Californian now, but at least he’s finally comfortable enough to be himself.”
Whether you find it funny or endearing, one thing’s certain — Prince Harry’s evolving accent and TK Maxx jokes have once again proved that even a royal can’t escape a little good-natured roasting.
