A blistering new royal satire that takes aim at the Royal Family and stars a fictionalised version of Prince George has sparked a heated debate over whether making fun of children should be ‘off-limits’.
TV series The Prince, created by Family Guy producer Gary Janetti, depicts Prince George as a child tyrant with expensive taste, a withering sense of humour and a dim view of his family.
The 12-episode series – which is available to stream in the US on HBO Max from today but is not yet airing in the UK – also pokes fun at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s move to California and portrays the Queen as a trigger-happy, tantrum-throwing syndicate boss.
Social media users on both sides of the Atlantic are split over whether Prince George should have been included in the comedy, which includes scenes of him berating staff and calling the Queen a ‘bad b***h’.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, lawyer and activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu argued making fun of an eight-year-old boy is ‘not funny’.
Comic Leo Kearse disagreed, saying that Prince George is a ‘future head of state and someone born into the Royal Family’, he should be open to parody.
TV series The Prince, created by Family Guy producer Gary Janetti, depicts Prince George as a child tyrant with expensive taste, a withering sense of humour and a dim view of his family
Social media users on both sides of the Atlantic are split over whether Prince George should have been included in the comedy, which includes scenes of him berating staff
Janetti, who first began making jibes at the the royal family on his Instagram account, has previously defended the show after he was accused of taking ‘cheap shots’ at George.
He said: ‘I would hope that he would find it super funny and have a sense of humour about it, and obviously see that everything is meant with affection.’
Dr Mos-Shogbamimu said today: ‘Children are off-limits.Creating a parody to make fun of an eight-year-old is not funny, it’s uncalled for, and it goes against our collective sense of responsibility.
‘I get people’s desire to make fun of the Royal Family but you do not need the misshapen caricature of an eight-year-old child in order to do so.’
Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, lawyer and activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu argued making fun of an eight-year-old boy is ‘not funny’
Comic Leo Kearse disagreed, saying that Prince George is a ‘future head of state and someone born into the Royal Family’, he should be open to parody
She added it seemed hypocritical to teach children not to bully only to condone it on a global TV platform.
Kearse disagreed, saying: ‘It depends which eight year old child you’re talking about, if this is a future head of state, someone born into the royal family, then I don’t think it’s really punching down to mock him.
‘Also he’s not going to see the cartoon, it’s for adults, he’ll see it in 10 years time. If anybody shows him the cartoon, they’re doing the bad thing, the people making it aren’t doing a bad thing.’
Twitter users are similarly divided on the issue, with many arguing it could cause damage to George’s mental health. However others argued comedians should be free to make jokes
‘This is a kid born into huge privilege. It’s not bullying.’
Twitter users are similarly divided on the issue, with many arguing it could cause damage to George’s mental health.
One tweeted: ‘Parody of adults is one thing, of children, no matter how protected, it feels uncomfortable and potentially damaging to them.’
Another added: ‘I agree with 100% @SholaMos1 l imagine Prince William and Kate will be upset and angry… the trailer looks dreadful. Yes children are off limits it is cruel.’
However others argued comedians should be free to make jokes and defended the right to free speech.
The Prince, created by Family Guy producer Gary Janetti, centres around a fictional version of Prince George as a child tyrant with expensive taste, a withering sense of humour and a dim view of his family – particularly his thuggish brother Louis. It premieres in the US today. Pictured l-r: Camilla, Prince Charles, the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince William and Kate
Prince Harry is shown coming to terms with his post-royal life as he and Meghan arrive in an LA apartment. Looking around, he says: ‘This might be the smallest palace I have ever been in’
‘Some people will find it funny, some won’t. Why do we always seem to cater for the ones that won’t? Humour isn’t a one size fits all,’ one Twitter user countered.
A two-minute long trailer shared on Twitter this week offers a taste of what viewers can expect from the irreverent TV series.
Prince Harry is shown coming to terms with his post-royal life as he and Meghan arrive in an LA apartment. Looking around, he says to his wife: ‘This might be the smallest palace I have ever been in.’
Meghan corrects him: ‘Well, it’s an apartment,’ to which Harry replies: ‘Yes, an apartment palace, I know that. Lots of tiny palaces inside one big palace.’
In another scene senior royals – including Prince Philip – are seen having afternoon tea in Buckingham Palace when the Queen jumps up and down in her seat and screams: ‘I would like a treat, I would like a treat, the Queen would like a treat!’
The 12-episode series, which cost £5million to create, is available to stream in the US on HBO Max from today. It was originally due to premiere in the spring but was pushed back following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh on April 9. Pictured, Prince George
Elsewhere Charles is seen telling Camilla: ‘I want to be King, she’s had her go, now it’s my turn,’ before running out of the door when the Queen calls his name
Prince George admits he’s scared of younger brother Prince Louis, pictured, who is depicted as a thug, while prim and proper Princess Charlotte is chirpy and well-spoken
Prince George turns to a nearby royal aide and asks: ‘Do you have any tea that doesn’t taste of p***’
The young prince admits he’s scared of younger brother Prince Louis, who is depicted as a thug, while prim and proper Princess Charlotte is chirpy and well-spoken.
Elsewhere Charles is seen telling Camilla: ‘I want to be King, she’s had her go, now it’s my turn,’ before running out of the door when the Queen calls his name.
Prince William is carried out of bed and to the toilet by an attendant when he declares he is ready for a s***.
Prince George runs the show in The Prince. A two-minute long trailer shared on Twitter last night offers a taste of what viewers can expect from the irreverent TV series
In the final moments of the trailer, the Queen tells great-grandson Prince George: ‘Sweetheart, you have no idea how much hard work it is to be head of a state family and syndicate,’ before shooting dead an attendant who ‘startles’ her.
An admiring George says: ‘She’s such a bad b***h.’
There had been speculation as to whether the Duke of Edinburgh’s character would be removed from the series in the wake of his death but he still appears in the trailer.