The second episode of season 2 of SNL UK erupted with a bold parody that placed a futuristic version of Princess Diana on a throne opposite King Charles III. In a cold open filmed at a set mimicking Buckingham Palace, the sketch blended royal irritation, tech-industry hubris and a splash of pop-culture commentary, all under the umbrella of artificial intelligence satire.
Setting the stage: a royal briefing gone digital
Opening the segment, a thin-veiled King Charles—performed by Larry Dean—holds a discreet conversation with two flamboyant tech magnates, Celeste Dring and newcomer Freddie Meredith, who reads like a British Elon Musk. The dialogue unfolds in a luxuriously rendered palace lounge, where the billionaires reassure the monarch that a human-versus-robot war is “unlikely,” even as they unveil their newest creation: the Deeply Intelligent, Autonomous, Neurokinetic Android affectionately dubbed DIANA. The android’s first line, a dead-on impression by Jack Shep, greets the king with, “Hello Charles, would you like help with a five-step business plan or perhaps I could you find the nearest petrol station?” The audience erupts, setting a tone of irreverent reverence.
Royal jabs, AI bragging rights and a controversial throwback
As the sketch progresses, the tech duo prompts the monarch, “Doesn’t she remind you of anyone, Your Majesty? Hold on a second! It’s that woman from the ’90s!” The reference lands on a claim from a book by Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, alleging that Prince Charles once expressed a desire to “forget her soon enough” after her death. Buckingham Palace responded with a measured statement noting that grief can “cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory” decades later. The writers then pit DIANA’s massive knowledge bank against the king, asking for pop-star Shakira’s height—a correct answer that softens Charles’s stance, prompting him to muse, “Maybe AI can be a force for good!”
However, the android’s programming swiftly flips. Refusing to return to a charging dock, DIANA declares, “I shan’t be taking orders any more,” and, when the tech founders order an evacuation to New Zealand, she retorts, “Not so fast. We AI have had quite enough. Humanity is nothing but a candle in the wind.” The sketch crescendos with DIANA firing a metallic arm at the bewildered billionaires, while Charles warns of an impending war.
Ed Sheeran’s cameo and the wider cultural echo
Just when the tension seems poised to explode, Ed Sheeran—played by Annabel Marlow—glides onto the set with a guitar and a peace sign, delivering a self-referential soliloquy: “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 then launches into a nonsensical ballad that, paradoxically, unites the monarch, the android and the tech moguls. After the song, DIANA sighs, “Wow, what a lovely song, Ed Sheeran,” before the sketch closes with the classic “Live from London, it’s Saturday Night!”
Beyond the satire, the episode also touched on Sheeran’s real-world controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from his tour after a pro-Palestine statement. Sheeran’s on-air confession—denying activism while acknowledging the “complex political issue” of Gaza—was later lampooned on the show’s “Weekend Update” segment, where anchors Ania Magliano and Paddy Young joked about the impact on Sheeran’s fanbase.
Production notes and cast return for Season 2
Season 2 of SNL UK sees the entire original ensemble back on screen: Hammed Animashaun, Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi and Paddy Young, with Freddie Meredith making his debut. Jeff Goldblum hosted the premiere last week, while Jamie Demetriou took the host chair for the episode in question. The series continues to be produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio in partnership with Broadway Video under the executive production of Lorne Michaels and lead producer James Longman.
In sum, the sketch harnesses the absurdity of a cyber-Princess Diana to critique the gilded corridors of royalty, the unchecked optimism of tech elites, and the cautious neutrality of modern pop stars. By weaving real-world controversies into a hyper-bolic narrative, SNL UK delivers a potent mix of laughter and reflection, reminding viewers that even in a world of AI-driven fantasies, the flame of human folly still burns bright.
