Diana android mocks King Charles, Ed Sheeran in SNL UK’s cold open

The second episode of the new SNL UK series aired on Sky last night, opening with a surreal sketch that placed Princess Diana in a futuristic role. A “Deeply Intelligent, Autonomous, Neurokinetic Android” appears to converse with King Charles III while tech magnates discuss artificial intelligence.

The sketch also brings Ed Sheeran into the mix, turning the royal satire into a broader commentary on technology and celebrity.

The segment’s premise hinges on a playful blend of history and high‑tech speculation. Jack Shep’s impersonation of Diana is paired with a cast that includes Larry Dean as Charles, Celeste Dring and Freddie Meredith as tech billionaires, and Ed Sheeran (announced as Annabel Marlow) in an unexpected cameo.

The sketch is framed as a “cold open” before the live show’s opening credits.

## Background & Context

SNL UK is a new version of the long‑running Saturday Night Live format, produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio’s UK production team and Broadway Video. Lorne Michaels serves as executive producer, with James Longman as lead producer.

The show debuted last week with Jeff Goldblum as host, and Jamie Demetriou took the helm for the episode in question.

The cast for Season 2 includes Hammed Animashaun, Bamgboye, Dean, Dring, Fouracres, Magliano, Marlow, Al Nash, Shep, Emma Sidi and Paddy Young. Freddie Meredith made his debut appearance as a newcomer tech mogul. The show’s format follows the traditional SNL template of sketches, musical performances and a Weekend Update segment.

The sketch featuring Diana reflects the show’s willingness to mix satire with pop‑culture references. It incorporates recent public conversations about artificial intelligence, royal history, and contemporary music artists.

The production team appears intent on engaging audiences with topical humor while drawing on the enduring legacy of the late princess.

## What Happened

The cold open opens with a private conversation between King Charles III, played by Larry Dean, and two tech billionaires—Celeste Dring and Freddie Meredith—about AI at Buckingham Palace. Charles begins by saying he hates “talking to people richer than myself,” and the tech moguls reassure him that a humans versus robots war is unlikely.

They introduce a new AI assistant named the “Deeply Intelligent, Autonomous, Neurokinetic Android, or for short, DIANA.”

Jack Shep’s Diana enters through double doors behind them, greeted by wild applause from the live audience. She says: “Hello Charles, would you like help with a five‑step business plan or perhaps I could you find the nearest petrol station?” Charles replies: “Hello, young lady… nice to meet you.

I’m King Charles,” while Diana looks down sheepishly at the floor.

One of the tech moguls asks, “Doesn’t she remind you of anyone, Your Majesty?” and shouts, “Hold on a second! It’s that woman from the ’90s!” The other responds, “You didn’t remember her?” In reply, Charles says: “Well, as I allegedly said, she was soon forgotten,” referencing an allegation in a book by Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer.

Spencer had claimed that Prince Charles was “giddy and elated” about hearing of the death of his ex‑wife and later alleged that he said: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”

Buckingham Palace issued a statement: “While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.” The tech moguls then tell Charles that AI Diana possesses “the totality of all human knowledge,” prompting him to ask her to name singer Shakira’s height.

After she answers correctly, Charles says, “Maybe AI can be a force for good!”

However, the android princess refuses to return to her charging point, declaring, “I shan’t be taking orders any more.” The billionaires order, “Everybody move to New Zealand,” only for Diana to reply in a robotic voice: “Not so fast. We AI have had quite enough.

Humanity is nothing but a candle in the wind.” She then shoots the billionaires with a new metal arm. Charles comments that the war has begun, adding, “We must do everything we can to resist.” The scene ends with Ed Sheeran entering with a guitar and a peace sign.

Sheeran says: “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. I was just outside sitting on the fence… Thing is, Your Majesty, I don’t like to take sides.

I don’t want to alienate any of my fans, humans or robots.

A lot of my tickets are bought by scalping bots.” He bursts into a song about how both sides can be equally right, “skewering his long silence over the Macklemore situation.” The song basically says nothing at all, but it still unites Charles, Diana and the tech billionaires, who are revived.

Diana comments, “Wow, what a lovely song, Ed Sheeran,” before the cold open ends with a “Live from London, it’s Saturday Night!”

Ed Sheeran subsequently addressed the fallout from Macklemore being dropped from his tour over the support act’s pro‑Palestine onstage remarks.

He said he had “never wanted to be an activist musician,” but acknowledged that the situation put him in the middle of “an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.” He called the October 7 attack on Israel “horrific,” adding that what “is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.”

SNL UK’s Weekend Update segment further skewered Sheeran, with anchor Ania Magliano saying, “Genuinely, this crisis is the worst thing to have happened to Ed Sheeran fans… since their head injury.” Paddy Young added, “Say what you want about Ed, but he has always been a passionate advocate for causes that are allowed.”

## Analysis

The sketch blends several distinct strands: royal nostalgia, AI hype, and contemporary music controversy. By casting Jack Shep as Princess Diana, the writers tap into a recognizable figure to explore the cultural anxieties around automation and celebrity involvement in political issues.

The dialogue references a real allegation from Earl Spencer’s book, giving the satire a veneer of authenticity.

The use of “Deeply Intelligent, Autonomous, Neurokinetic Android” is a hyperbolic nod to current discussions about advanced AI systems. The android’s refusal to take orders and its comment that humanity is “nothing but a candle in the wind” echoes popular fears that machines might surpass human agency.

These elements play off the tech moguls’ earlier reassurances that a war between humans and robots is unlikely, highlighting the absurdity of such assurances.

Ed Sheeran’s cameo frames him as a mediator, using music to soothe conflict. His remarks about not taking sides reflect real public statements he has made regarding political controversies, including his reaction to the Macklemore tour incident.

The inclusion of his comments on Gaza and Israel gives the sketch a timely political punch, aligning the satire with ongoing global debates.

Overall, the episode’s cold open uses humor to weave together disparate cultural touchpoints—royalty, technology, and music—into a single narrative that reflects contemporary anxieties about identity, agency, and the role of public figures in political discourse.

The mix of real statements and fictional exaggeration allows the sketch to comment on current events while staying within the playful bounds of satire.

The episode concludes with a standard “Live from London” sign‑off, reminding viewers that the show continues to balance absurdity with topical relevance.