Earl Spencer says press treatment of the Sussexes 'echoes' Diana

Earl Spencer contends that the media's treatment of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex mirrors the way they treated his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales. In a forthcoming BBC interview, Earl described the press's coverage of Harry and Meghan as carrying a "cancerous influence," urging people to learn from Diana's example. Earl noted that Diana was "really brought low" by media criticism and that it was unfortunate to see similar echoes in the press's portrayal of Harry and Meghan.

The Sussexes, who recently returned to the UK, have frequently criticized their media treatment, with Harry admitting in 2021 that tabloid press had created a "toxic environment." Earlier this year, Harry and six others, including Sir Elton John and Liz Hurley, lost a privacy case against the Daily Mail publisher, but Harry has won legal battles against the Mirror Group and News Group in the past.

Earl's comments follow his accusations of the King "gaslighting" him after Buckingham Palace's response to claims that Charles said "we'll forget her soon enough" after Diana's death. Earl has detailed his grievances in a new memoir on Diana's life, which prompted the palace's pushback. In response to the memoir, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson stated that the King acknowledged the pain of fraternal grief could affect memory, but denied gaslighting Earl.