In a BBC interview, Diana’s brother draws parallels between the media coverage of his sister and that of Harry and Meghan, and speaks about the “echoes” he sees in the way the couple are portrayed today. At the same time, he stands by his accusations against King Charles.

The Sussexes’ conflict with the British press, old wounds surrounding Diana’s death, and Spencer’s new interview are all coming to a head at a sensitive time, following Harry and Meghan’s return to the U.K. from California in late August.

Earl Spencer Sees Parallels With Diana

During the interview, the Earl says that the media coverage of Harry and Meghan reminds him of the way Diana was treated.

“If you look at an article in a tabloid about Diana or the ... Harry and Meghan, you know, they can be really, really unpleasant,” Spencer said, according to the BBC.

He described this treatment as a “cancerous influence” on people who are subjected to it every day. Speaking about his sister, he said Diana was very sensitive to criticism and that attacks by the press had left her “really down in the dumps.” He also said, “It could have cost her her life.”

Harry and Meghan Have Been Criticizing the Press for Years

The Sussexes have long spoken openly about their conflict with the British media. In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry described the tabloid press as a “toxic environment” fueled by control and fear. Meghan explained in the couple’s 2022 Netflix series that the media had been looking for ways to undermine her, regardless of what she did.

In July, Harry and six other plaintiffs, including Elton John and Liz Hurley, lost a privacy lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mail.

Dispute Over Charles Overshadows the Interview

Alongside his comments about Harry and Meghan, Spencer also defended his account of a phone call with Charles in the days following Diana’s death. This concerns his allegation that the current king said Diana would be “forgotten soon enough.”

Buckingham Palace responded with a strongly worded statement, noting that the King is aware that a brother’s grief can cloud reason, influence judgment, and color memories. Spencer interpreted the palace statement as an attempt to undermine his credibility and described it as psychological manipulation.

Earl Spencer Stands by His Version

In the interview, Spencer dismissed doubts about his account, saying, “I’m telling the truth.” He also recounted a heated argument over Diana’s funeral. According to his account, Charles sharply criticized the Spencer family at the time.

The Earl said he informed close friends and relatives immediately after the conversation because the King’s alleged words had shaken him so deeply.