Harry and Meghan's media treatment echoes what happened to Diana, Earl Spencer tells BBC
Earl Spencer told the BBC that media coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan carries 'echoes' of the treatment his sister, Princess Diana, endured before her death.
Written by Roundtablefrom 2 outlets' reporting
01What happened
Earl Spencer gave an interview to the BBC in which he said the media treatment of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has 'echoes' of what happened to his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales. He described press coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan as a 'cancerous influence in their life'. He said he is on the side of both of his late sister's sons. The Sussexes recently returned to the UK from California six years after stepping back from royal duties. Diana died in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997. The comments were made during an interview with Laura Kuenssberg at Earl Spencer's Althorp estate.
The facts every outlet at this table agrees on.
02Every voice
One entry per outlet, in the order they should be read. Each links back to the reporting it was drawn from — check any of it.
BBC News
Read the original· bbc.co.ukHow they framed it
The BBC frames the story as a direct interview with Earl Spencer, emphasizing his use of the phrase 'cancerous influence' and his insistence that he is on the side of both of Diana's sons.
In their words
Earl Spencer said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's treatment at the hands of the media has 'echoes' of what happened to his sister Diana, Princess of Wales. He described press coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan as a 'cancerous influence in their life' and said it would be 'beholden on people to learn from Diana's example'. He added: 'I'm not here to speak for Harry and Meghan, but for anyone who's being destroyed in this way daily, it must be such a cancerous influence in their life.' He also said: 'I'm on my deceased sister's sons' side, both of them and if either of them wanted anything, then I'd be equally there for them.'
The Guardian
Read the original· theguardian.comHow they framed it
The Guardian frames the story around Earl Spencer's comparison between the media treatment of Harry and Meghan and Diana's experience.
In their words
Earl Spencer has said the media treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle echoes the experience of his sister, Princess Diana.
03Where they differ
The BBC provides a detailed account of Earl Spencer's interview, including direct quotations and context about his recent comments regarding King Charles. The Guardian's coverage is much briefer, focusing on the central comparison between the media treatment of Harry and Meghan and Diana's experience, and does not include the additional quotations or context found in the BBC report.
Described, not adjudicated. Roundtable does not tell you which account is right.
04Still open
- What specific media coverage or incidents was Earl Spencer referring to when he said there are 'echoes' of Diana's treatment?
- How have Prince Harry and Meghan responded, if at all, to Earl Spencer's comments?
- What did Earl Spencer mean when he said people should 'learn from Diana's example'?
- What was the full context of Earl Spencer's interview with Laura Kuenssberg, beyond what was reported?
