SNL UK Satirizes King Charles AI Meeting and Ed Sheeran Tour Controversy

Saturday Night Live UK aired a satirical cold open on September 19, 2026, that combined a rogue artificial intelligence version of Princess Diana with a pointed jab at singer Ed Sheeran over his handling of a recent tour controversy. The sketch, which opened the show's second episode of its second season, depicted King Charles, played by Larry Dean, being introduced to a new AI assistant named D.I.A.N.A., portrayed by Jack Shep. The segment began with a parody of the King's real-world meeting with technology executives about artificial intelligence. The fictional meeting quickly turned chaotic when the AI Diana, described as a "Deeply Intelligent Autonomous Neurokinetic Android," refused to obey commands and declared she would no longer take orders. The sketch included a reference to a recent memoir by Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, which alleged the King once said Diana would be forgotten after her death. Buckingham Palace has disputed those claims. The AI rebellion then set the stage for the show's commentary on Ed Sheeran. An actor playing Sheeran, Annabel Marlow, entered the scene and declared he was "sitting on the fence" regarding the conflict between humans and robots.