Stephen Colbert expresses regret but falls shy of issuing an apology for his jokes about Princess Kate

Stephen Colbert expressed remorse but stopped short of apologizing to Kate Middleton for making jokes about her disappearance and spreading wild conspiracies while she was privately battling cancer.

During the talk show CBS host’s opening monologue on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” he acknowledged that the Princess of Wales’s whereabouts had been top of mind.

Colbert had repeatedly made jokes about Princess Kate’s disappearance and rumors that her husband Prince William had an affair, fueling online conspiracies. Last week in a video statement, Middleton broke her silence on her health status after undergoing abdominal surgery in January, revealing she was diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.

“And for the last six weeks to two months, everybody has been talking about the mystery of Kate Middleton’s disappearance from public life,” Colbert said. “And two weeks ago, we did some jokes about that mystery and all the attendant fru-fra in the reporting about that.”

“And when I made those jokes, that upset some people, and even before her diagnosis was revealed, and I can understand that,” he added. “A lot of my jokes have upset people in the past, and I’m sure some of my jokes will upset people in the future. But there’s a standard that I try to hold myself to, and that is I do not make light of somebody else’s tragedy.”

“Now, I don’t know whether her prognosis is a tragic one, she’s the future Queen of England and I assume she’s going to get the best possible medical care,” Colbert continued. “But regardless of what it is, I know, and I’m sure many of you, far too many of us know, that any cancer diagnosis of any kind is harrowing for the patient and for their family. And though I’m sure they don’t need it from me, I and everyone here at ‘The Late Show’ would like to extend our well wishes and heartfelt hope that her recovery is swift and thorough.”

In one episode earlier this month, Colbert took affair rumors public when he mentioned on the show that “internet sleuths are guessing that Kate’s absence may be related to her husband and the future king of England, William, having an affair.”

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“So, I think we all know who the alleged other woman is. Say it with me –– the Marchioness of Cholmondeley –– what a beautiful name!” he added, mentioning Lady Rose Hanbury’s full title and mocking her name. “According to tabloids back then, when Kate supposedly confronted him about it, he laughed it off, saying there was nothing to it. Always a good response when your wife accuses you of cheating.”

In 2019, the Prince of Wales issued a statement slamming the allegations as “false and extremely damaging,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Last week, Hanbury, through her attorney, called the rumors “completely false.”

Colbert also mocked the photo fail of Middleton’s family portrait, which the palace later admitted had been edited before being released to news agencies.

Related: Rose Hanbury Responds To Prince William Affair Rumors: Report

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