Prince Harry is reportedly courting his uncle Earl Spencer as speculation mounts over a Princess Diana documentary.
Royal journalist Tom Sykes, in an exclusive interview, claimed the Duke of Sussex, 40, has been “wooing” Diana’s younger brother, Charles Spencer, 60, amid swirling rumors that Harry and Meghan Markle are developing a film about the late princess. The timing coincides with the upcoming 30th anniversary of Diana’s death in August 2027.
“There is no denying [Spencer] is a big name, and he will give the documentary credibility. So [the Sussexes] need to woo him and get him onside,” Sykes said.
Sykes went further, alleging the couple’s recent activities in Britain had been misread. “What Harry and Meghan are actually doing back in the UK is finally revealed — they are making a Diana film, and Spencer is likely being lined up as its star,” he continued.
The journalist pointed to what he described as coded support from Markle’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, which posted a swan emoji during the same week Spencer’s memoir dominated headlines. The book, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” contains explosive claims about King Charles III’s treatment of Diana during and after their marriage.
Spencer himself recently stated that Harry was “completely fine” with the memoir’s contents. Sykes interpreted this as evidence of coordination between the parties.
“He would not have made that comment unless he had been given the nod to say, in effect, that Harry and Meghan are behind it,” Sykes added.
The financial dimension, however, loomed largest in Sykes’s analysis. “Money, rather than any deep emotional bond, is, I suspect, why Harry appears so close to the Spencer side of the family right now,” he shared.
Regarding the documentary’s likely angle, Sykes predicted Harry would position himself as Diana’s rightful heir. “Harry will seek to identify himself very closely with Diana as this brave person who stood up against the cruel and heartless royal family,” the journalist said.
He also forecast “lots of massive bombshells” and identified the couple’s ultimate objective: “the overall goal here [for Harry and Markle] is tens of millions of dollars.”
Sykes drew a direct line between mother and son’s royal experiences. “So yes, there is a line to be drawn between the way Diana was treated and the way Harry now views the monarchy,” he acknowledged. Yet he noted this narrative faces skepticism at home, where many Britons find Harry’s sustained resentment “absurd” given his lifelong privileges.
The palace’s response to Spencer’s book has itself become a story. Charles issued an uncharacteristic public statement pushing back against the memoir’s claims, a move Sykes called “unprecedented.”
“The King’s public statement was unprecedented, which does go to show how seriously they are taking the risk,” Sykes observed.
Reports said this week that Spencer and several of Diana’s friends had approached Harry about participating in a commemorative film. A source told the outlet that Harry “is still considering the most meaningful way to honor her legacy during this important anniversary year,” and that discussions encompass multiple possible projects. The film would likely be produced through Archewell Productions and distributed via Netflix, given the Sussexes’ existing streaming deal, though no project has been officially confirmed.
Earlier this year, sources claimed one motivation for Harry and Markle’s return to Britain after six years in California was precisely this cinematic tribute. The couple, who resigned from royal duties in 2020 and initially settled in Montecito with their three children, have been informed by Charles that they remain private citizens without official roles.
Diana died on August 31, 1997, at age 36, from injuries sustained in a Paris car crash while being pursued by paparazzi. The tragedy cemented her global icon status and left her two sons, then 15 and 12, to navigate public grief under intense scrutiny. Harry has since spoken extensively about the lasting psychological impact, while William has generally maintained a more reserved posture. The brothers’ estrangement, deepened by Harry’s 2023 memoir and subsequent interviews, has complicated any unified commemoration.
The outlet has reached out to representatives for Harry and Markle for comment.
Harry is expected to continue discussions with Spencer and Diana’s circle about potential anniversary projects in the coming months.