Lewis Spears, an Australian comedian, has revealed his decision to double down on gags at Prince Philip’s expense after learning he had died the same day was not well received by some members of the public. During an interview with SBS Insight due to air on Wednesday evening, Mr Spears said older Britons in particular were furious when his jokes reached them after going viral online.

Speaking to host Kumi Taguchi, who asked the 27-year-old comedian ‘where the line is in humor and what happens when you cross it’, Mr Spears said: ‘I don’t never received so many death threats from people who were themselves so close to death.

“It was profoundly positive, but there was like a really very vocal minority who were furious and very angry and upset.”

Mr Spears said the backlash and anger were ‘fuelled by the media’ and how they portrayed his jokes after they went viral.

Although he revealed he had received death threats, the comedian said the stand-up set was “one of the best” he had ever done.

Describing it as a “privilege”, his jokes about Prince Philip were caught on camera, the comedian added: “It’s something that I feel like a real privilege that I managed to capture on film and that won’t be able to never be reproduced.”

Again joking at the expense of the Duke of Edinburgh and the Royal Family, Mr Spears added: ‘Because it was pre-written jokes I was doing about Prince Philip at the Comedy Festival for 10 nights in a row – so if anything maybe i should apologize to the royals because i think i killed him.

“I may have cursed him”.

During the recent interview, Mr. Spears referenced the stand-up he did on April 9.

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The comedian was poking fun at Prince Philip saying he was “3,000 years old” when an audience member shouted, “He died tonight.”

Visibly stunned by the news, Mr Spears then read the announcement about the Duke’s death from a member of the public’s phone.

Doubling down on his jokes despite news of Philip’s death, Mr Spears said: ‘I have to say…a bit late.’

The audience seemed to appreciate the joke, as many greeted it with a burst of laughter.

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Mr Spears then added: ‘Are we sure he died today? I think he died 10 years ago and they took him out tied to ropes at special events!’

Hours after the show, Mr. Spears tweeted, next to an excerpt from his set: “I tell a joke to Prince Philip, then he dies. Too soon?”

The post divided Twitter users, with some welcoming it while others expressed disappointment.

Twitter user @postmodernfilms tweeted at the time, “Couldn’t have been more perfect.”

Another, @Nihil611, simply said: “I love it”.

On the other hand, @tonka9754 tweeted: “Now how about some jokes about one of your family members, grandma maybe, dying. I’m sure it will be hilarious”.

And @AngryExile said: “No, but to say it’s late when an old woman mourns the death of the guy she’s been with for over 70 years isn’t funny.

“Don’t get me wrong, I would vote to abolish the monarchy in the blink of an eye if asked.

“But the joy when one of them dies is ugly, unseemly and unnecessary.”

Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle on April 9.

His death was announced at noon the same day by Buckingham Palace.

A brief statement read: “It is with profound sadness that Her Majesty The Queen announces the passing of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.” Further announcements will be made in due course.

“The Royal Family joins people around the world in mourning their loss.”