Late-night host Stephen Colbert has fallen into hot water after joking that Kate Middleton’s disappearance is related to the potential affair between her husband, Prince William, and another royal woman.

The Western Journal reports that lawyers for the woman, Marchioness of Cholmondeley Rose Hanbury, sent the man a cease-and-desist letter ordering him to refrain from publicly connecting their client to William.

“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 organisations to confirm that the allegation is false,” said Hanbury’s attorney in a statement to In Touch.

The letter came just days after Colbert opened one of his recent shows with commentary on Middleton’s controversial public appearances, which he joked were meant to dispel her unhappiness with an unfaithful husband.

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“The kingdom has been all a flutter by the seeming disappearance of Kate Middleton. 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,” Stephen, 59, joked during the March 12 episode of his show. “So, I think we all know who the alleged other woman is. Say it with me –– the Marchioness of Cholmondeley –– what a beautiful name!”

“Now, there have been rumors [of] an affair between William and the Marching Band of Chicanery since 2019,” he continued. “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,” the comedian joked.

“Ha ha, imagine me having an affair! It is to laugh,” he said in a mocking British accent.

Hanbury, 40, previously told Business Insider that the rumors connecting her to Prince William are baseless.

Middleton has been under a microscope since last week acknowledging she will be undergoing preventative chemotherapy as she seeks treatment for early-stage cancer. A video message only served to exacerbate concern about her well-being since she was seen strolling with William through a farm, her first public appearance since December. She was previously the subject of speculation after a family photo released days earlier by the Royal Palace was discovered to have been digitally altered.