'No Echoes of Diana!' Charles Spencer's Harry and Meghan Claim Sparks Furious Backlash From Critics

Earl Spencer's comparison between the media treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and that endured by his sister, Princess Diana, has triggered a sharp reaction online.

Speaking to the BBC while promoting his forthcoming book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, Spencer said the criticism directed at the Sussexes had 'echoes' of what Diana experienced before her death in 1997.

His comments have since drawn criticism from social media users who argue that the circumstances surrounding the Sussexes' relationship with the press are fundamentally different.

Earl Spencer Says Harry and Meghan Face Echoes of Diana's Treatment

During his BBC interview, Spencer reflected on the effect relentless criticism had on Diana and suggested that similar media scrutiny could have damaging consequences for Harry and Meghan.

'It would really be beholden on people to learn from Diana's example. 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,' Earl Spencer said.

He recalled how criticism affected Diana personally, adding: '[Diana] was really brought low by all that criticism. And yeah I suppose it's a pity when I see echoes of that now.'

Spencer has previously spoken about the intense press attention surrounding Diana, including in the eulogy he delivered at her funeral, when he described her as 'the most hunted person of the modern age'.

Critics Reject Comparison Between Sussexes and Diana

The comparison quickly became a point of dispute on social media, with several users arguing that Harry and Meghan have had a different relationship with publicity because they have also deliberately shared aspects of their lives with the public.

One user wrote: 'No! There are no echoes of Diana in the outrage over Megs and Harry. No! They earn all the negativity they reap.'

Others argued that Diana was pursued by paparazzi while attempting to maintain a private life, whereas Harry and Meghan have entered commercial and media arrangements and selectively shared personal material with the public.

Some also questioned whether the scale and nature of the attention received by the Sussexes can reasonably be compared with the unprecedented scrutiny Diana faced.

Critics also contrasted Harry's public disclosures in his memoir Spare with Diana's own relationship with the Royal Family. The 1995 BBC Panorama interview is also relevant to comparisons between the two, as Diana publicly discussed the monarchy and her personal experiences at the time.

Kinsey Schofield Questions Harry's Approach to Children's Privacy

The debate has also revived criticism of Harry and Meghan's decision to share carefully selected images and videos involving their children, Archie and Lilibet, while continuing to stress the importance of privacy.

Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield previously questioned the approach after Meghan shared footage of the children on Instagram without showing their faces. Writing about the controversy, Schofield challenged whether publicly sharing selected glimpses of family life was consistent with Harry's longstanding objections to unwanted media attention.

'You cannot spend years telling the world that unwanted attention traumatised you and then actively manufacture public interest in the private lives of your own children,' Schofield said.

Harry has previously spoken about the impact of unwanted press attention during his childhood and has also pursued legal action against newspaper publishers over allegations of unlawful information gathering.

Critics have argued that the couple's decision to share selected glimpses of their children online, even without showing their faces, can generate further public interest in their family.

Earl Spencer's Swan Song Revisits Diana's Life

Spencer's comments come just days before the publication of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister. The book examines Diana's life and death from her brother's perspective and includes his recollections of the period surrounding her 1997 death.

It is due to be published in the UK on 22 September. The memoir has already generated controversy over Spencer's claims about King Charles, including his account of conversations following Diana's death, while the allegations have been disputed by Buckingham Palace and Spencer has maintained that his recollections are accurate.