Fans were left feeling unimpressed by Prince Harry’s comments comparing his wife Meghan Markle to the late Princess Diana of Wales.

Many fans believe Meghan Markle differs significantly from Princess Diana despite Prince Harry’s favourable comparisons made in his bombshell Netflix documentary titled ‘Harry & Meghan’, released in December 2022.

Speaking of his wife, who Harry married in May 2018, he told documentary makers: “So much of what Meghan is, and how she is, is so similar to my mum.”

He further explained: “She has the same compassion, she has the same empathy, she has the same confidence. She has this warmth about her.”

As he spoke, the episode featured clips of Meghan and Diana intertwined. A clip of Diana holding a young Harry on her hip as she walked behind Prince William played before a clip showing Meghan and the couple’s son Archie, holding hands and running in a garden.

However, fans on social media, have opposed his views and doubted the comparisons. User @RCaron67 wrote: “Meghan wants to be loved like Diana without having any of the qualities that made her relatable.”

Whereas user, @thutmose4th joked: “This makes me want to throw up…”

Another offered a slight balance of opinion: “I assume he sees more than we see through private interaction. That said, I do not see a comparison between the People’s Princess and the Hollywood Actress. It is genuine compassion versus narcissism.”

Despite the criticism fans made in the comparison, the Netflix documentary also tugged at fans’ heartstrings as Meghan Markle carried a baby Prince Archie on her hip, pointing to a picture of Diana in his nursery and saying “That’s your grandma, Diana”.

Commenting on the sweet interaction, one fan said: “Got so choked up watching Archie touch his Grandma Diana’s hand in the photo, and speaking his Baby talk talk to his beloved GRAND MAMA.”

Diana died in a car accident in Paris in 1997, when she was 36 years old and Harry was only 12 years old at the time of her death.

The crash has been blamed on paparazzi, who had been following the princess while driving through Paris. It also resulted in the deaths of Dodi Fayed, and her chauffeur, Henri Paul.

Prince Harry has previously claimed that men in the royal family have a “temptation or urge to marry someone who fits in the mould, as opposed to somebody who you are perhaps destined to be with”.

He added: “The difference between making decisions with your head, or your heart. And my mum [Diana] made most of her decisions, if not all of them, from her heart. And I am my mother’s son.”

Diana passed away when Harry was 12 years old (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry appeared to take a swipe at his older brother Prince William and father King Charles with the comment on marriage in the opening episode of ‘Harry & Meghan’.

However, Royal Commentator Robert Jobson took to X to label it a “backhanded swipe”. Mr Jobson said: “Prince Harry says men in the royal family marry women who “fit the mould” whereas his was a true love story. Backhanded swipe at his father, The King, and his brother, Prince William. Not sure that they would agree.”

In the first episode of the docuseries, the couple also recalled their first date in Soho, London, in 2016 when Meghan revealed Harry was late to the occasion.

The Duchess said: “We met at 76 Dean Street, you were late and I couldn’t understand why he was late. He kept texting ‘I’m in traffic I’m so sorry’.”

Prince Harry added: “I was panicking I was freaking out, I started sweating.”

The first episode of ‘Harry & Meghan’ was seen by 2.4 million people on TV sets on its launch day, ratings show. It included interviews with the couple and their friends, as well as their video diary – covering a range of topics, including their difficult relationship with the press.