NashvilleGab - Prince Harry believed history was repeating itself with Meghan Markle

Diana, Princess of Wales, died in Paris on August 31, 1997, after suffering fatal injuries in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel. Photographers had been pursuing the vehicle before the crash. Harry was 12 years old when his mother died.

In the decades since, Harry has repeatedly said he feared that Meghan could face treatment resembling what Diana experienced.

He has also compared Meghan with his mother, particularly their compassion, empathy, confidence, and warmth. His public comments show how strongly Diana’s death has influenced his views on family safety, privacy, and media scrutiny.

A mother lost too soon

Diana died on August 31, 1997, after suffering fatal injuries when the car carrying her crashed in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. The crash occurred shortly after midnight while photographers were pursuing the vehicle.

Harry was 12 years old at the time. He has since described his mother’s death as a major influence on his attitudes toward media intrusion, privacy, and personal safety. He has repeatedly invoked Diana’s experience when explaining his efforts to protect Meghan and their children from intense press attention.

Harry’s lasting fear of history

About 5 months before Harry, Meghan, and Meghan’s mother were followed by photographers in New York City in May 2023, Harry discussed his fear of history repeating itself in the Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan, released in December 2022.

The couple’s spokesperson later described the New York pursuit as lasting more than 2 hours and said it led to near collisions involving other motorists, pedestrians, and 2 NYPD officers.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at an event. — *Source: cheekylorns2/Depositphotos*

Seeing Diana in Meghan

In Harry & Meghan, Harry said much of Meghan’s personality reminded him of his late mother. He specifically identified compassion, empathy, confidence, and warmth as qualities he believed the 2 women shared.

The comparison represents Harry’s personal assessment of his wife and mother. Facial expressions, posture, and other nonverbal behavior may be interpreted in different ways, but they cannot conclusively establish whether a person’s comments are genuine, rehearsed, or staged.

In his 2022 book Revenge, royal biographer Tom Bower wrote that Harry expected Diana’s siblings to see similarities between Diana and Meghan, but that they did not share his assessment. Bower also wrote that Charles Spencer cautioned Harry against moving too quickly toward marriage.

According to Bower, some of Diana’s relatives worried that Meghan might struggle to adapt to royal life. Harry and Meghan married on May 19, 2018.

Fun fact: Diana dreamed of being a ballerina but was told she was too tall for the stage at nearly 5’11.

Media pressure then and now

Diana faced intense tabloid and photographic scrutiny during and after her years as a working member of the royal family. Meghan also described severe media pressure after marrying Harry and becoming a working royal in 2018.

In a 2019 ITV documentary, Meghan said she had tried to adopt a British “stiff upper lip,” but believed that approach was damaging internally. Harry has repeatedly linked the treatment of Meghan by sections of the press with what he witnessed his mother experience.

Diana, Princess of Wales, leaves the Brazilian Ambassador's residence en route to the White House. — *Source: mark reinstein/Shutterstock.com*

The decision to step back

In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced that they intended to step back as senior members of the royal family and work toward financial independence. Their revised arrangement took effect that spring, and Buckingham Palace confirmed in February 2021 that they would not return as working members of the royal family.

Harry later said his biggest concern was that history would repeat itself, linking the decision to his fears about Meghan’s treatment and safety. The couple moved to California in March 2020 and established their primary home in the United States.

Williams different point of view

William has not publicly addressed Harry’s comparisons between Meghan and Diana. Some media reports, citing unnamed sources, have claimed that William dislikes the comparison, but none include an on-the-record statement from him.

The brothers’ relationship has nevertheless been strained for years. Harry said in a 2023 interview that he wanted his brother back, and in 2025, he renewed his call for reconciliation with his family. Their public disagreements have involved royal life, media relations, and security, while William’s personal view of the Meghan-Diana comparison remains private.

Little-known fact: Diana secretly buried a friend’s stillborn baby in her own garden so the grieving mother could visit anytime.