Princess Diana Revived as AI Assistant in SNL UK Sketch
WHO:
The Independent - Ed Sheeran, Earl Spencer, King Charles III, and Jack Shep were involved in the sketch.
Variety - Princess Diana, portrayed by Jack Shep, King Charles III, Ed Sheeran
Deadline - Jack Shep, Princess Diana as a character in the sketch
WHAT:
The Independent - The sketch included a line where King Charles allegedly said Princess Diana would be forgotten “soon enough.”
The Independent - The AI assistant was named "D.I.A.N.A," which stands for "Deeply Intelligent Autonomous Neurokinetic Android."
Variety - "SNL U.K." featured a cold open with Princess Diana as King Charles' personal AI assistant.
Deadline - The sketch depicted Princess Diana as a "Deeply Intelligent, Autonomous, Neurokinetic Android."
WHERE:
Variety - The sketch aired on "SNL U.K."
Deadline - The AI summit referenced took place in Scotland.
WHEN:
Variety - The AI summit occurred on a Thursday prior to the airing of the sketch.
Deadline - The episode featuring the sketch was the second episode of the Sky show.
WHY:
The Independent - The sketch mocked recent claims made by Earl Spencer regarding Princess Diana's funeral arrangements in 1997.
Variety - The sketch riffed on the drama surrounding King Charles and the AI summit.
Deadline - The cold open aimed to skewer King Charles, Ed Sheeran, and the concept of AI.
HOW:
The Independent - The sketch featured a comedic portrayal of a conflict between AI robots and humans, with King Charles insisting they resist the AI takeover.
Variety - The sketch utilized humor to portray Princess Diana in a modern context as an AI assistant.
Deadline - The impression of Princess Diana was celebrated and featured in a comedic format.
(UPDATED September 20, 2026 21:57 UTC)
A new sketch featuring Ed Sheeran, Earl Spencer, King Charles III, and Jack Shep has sparked controversy, particularly for a line where King Charles allegedly stated that Princess Diana would be forgotten “soon enough.” The sketch, which includes an AI assistant named "D.I.A.N.A," pokes fun at Earl Spencer's recent claims about Princess Diana's funeral arrangements in 1997, presenting a comedic conflict between AI robots and humans. In this humorous portrayal, King Charles insists that humanity must resist the impending AI takeover.
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(UPDATED September 20, 2026 13:59 UTC)
"SNL U.K." recently aired a cold open featuring Princess Diana, portrayed by Jack Shep, as King Charles' personal AI assistant, humorously depicted as a "Deeply Intelligent, Autonomous, Neurokinetic Android." The sketch, which aired during the second episode of the Sky show, riffed on the drama surrounding King Charles and an AI summit that took place in Scotland. With a comedic twist, the portrayal of Princess Diana aimed to skewer King Charles, Ed Sheeran, and the concept of artificial intelligence.