Harry Styles took a scathing swipe at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during his Saturday Night Live monologue, after disgraced ex-Prince was arrested last month.

The singer, 32, returned for a second stint fronting the NBC show after his fourth album soared to the top of the charts.

During his monologue, Harry referenced his lengthy absence from the spotlight, quipping he'd become 'tremendously boring', before saying his quiet spell was welcomed when compared to Andrew public fall from grace.

Andrew has come under heavy scrutiny for his friendship with convicted [child predator] Jeffrey Epstein.

Last month, the eighth-in-line to the throne was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he provided Epstein with sensitive information during his time as a UK trade envoy.

He has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to his friendship with Epstein.

Harry contrasts quiet life with royal scandals
 

Harry said: 'I took up jogging. There's nothing interesting about that. But because I'm me, people pretend to find that interesting. I don't run to be interesting. I do it for the feeling it gives me, that runner's high. It's just amazing.

'Watermelon sugar high, runner's high. And if that doesn't do it for you, I also love ecstasy. As a British man who spent a lot of his life in the public eye, I can assure you, there's something nice about being boring. It's better than the alternative.'

It was at this moment that an image of Andrew in the back of a police car following his arrest appeared on the screen.

Having been evicted from the Royal Lodge over his links to Epstein, police took Andrew into custody from his cottage at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate on his 66th birthday as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office.

He spent around 10 hours at Aylsham Police Station before being released shortly before 7pm.

Harry mocks critics who accused him of queerbaiting

It is thought that the UK Government could introduce legislation to have Andrew removed from the line of succession amid the scandal which has seen him lose his royal titles.

During his monologue, Harry also took a swipe at politically correct fans who have accused him of 'queerbaiting'.

'Queerbaiting' refers to a PR ploy of hinting at same-[sexuality] relationships without confirming them outright, in order to strike a balance between enticing a gay viewership and not repelling homophobic audiences.

The pop star faced the allegations head-on when he compered the show this weekend, reflecting on his previous time hosting in 2019.

'Back then, people seemed to pay a lot of attention to the clothes I was wearing and some people accused me of something called "queerbaiting,"' he said, adding in a comically melodramatic howl: 'But did it ever occur to you that maybe you don't know everything about me, Dad?'

By the end of the monologue, he grabbed SNL star Ben Marshall and locked lips with him, then turned to camera and said with a wink: 'Now that's queerbaiting.' 

Harry Styles sparks cheers with surprise on-stage kiss 
 

The kiss came at the end of a flirty bit about the One Direction alumnus' new solo album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. 

He said he 'loved' the title 'because what's better than kissing all the time?' - prompting Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman to bound hopefully onstage.

'Which I don't actually do. I don't wanna kiss all the time,' Styles then said, apparently taking no notice of Fineman, who slunk off crestfallen.

Her co-star Sarah Sherman then took the stage as Styles said that 'sometimes kissing can be great,' only for her to then leave abashed as he clarified: 'you know, if you're really good at it and you're a good person.' 

Styles added: 'Or if you have a tight little bum,' at which point Ben Marshall strolled onstage, where he was greeted by Styles, who asked: 'What are you doing here?'

'Well, you said "tight little [backside]," so where's my kiss?' asked Marshall, to which Styles replied: 'Come on, Ben, everyone knows there's nothing little about that thang. You're hauling a damn wagon back there.'

'Facts,' said Marshall, and with a smile Styles said: 'Whatever, come here,' drawing Marshall in and planting a smooch on his lips that drove the audience wild.

Never-before-seen image of Andrew, Mandelson and Epstein released in files

 A photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Mandelson together has emerged for the first time in Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice. 

The picture, which shows the disgraced ex-prince and former US ambassador barefoot and in bathrobes, while Epstein is fully clothed, is believed to have been taken outside at Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. 

It is the first known image of the three men together and is thought to have been taken around 1999-2000. 

The trio are sat around a wooden table with mugs decorated with the US flag. Like all the photos in the Epstein files, no date or context for the picture is given.

The image closely resembles a second photograph of Lord Mandelson with Jeffrey Epstein that appeared in the convicted child predator’s so-called 'birthday book,' which was made public last year. 

In that collection, Mandelson is reported to have written Epstein a friendly letter in which he described him as his 'best pal.' 

Epstein, a financier with powerful connections, was convicted of child [sexual] offences in 2008. 

The following year he was sentenced to 18 months in jail, but served much of that time under house arrest at his Palm Beach mansion. 

Both Prince Andrew and Mandelson have since faced mounting scrutiny and criticism over the nature of their past associations with Epstein.

New files released by the UK government detailing Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador by Sir Keir showed how vetting procedures highlighted both men's 'particularly close' relationships with the financier post-conviction. 

The Prime Minister has insisted Mandelson 'lied repeatedly' to No 10 about his relationship with the [child predator], before and during his time in the job. 

But the dossier reveals that Sir Keir was explicitly warned that Mandelson's relationship with Epstein posed a 'general reputational risk' and that the PM could 'personally' get the blame.

In total the words 'reputational risk' were used four times to refer to his relationship with Epstein, his past resignations from the Government, and lobbying by his firm Global Counsel. 

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