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Charles Spencer reveals 'debilitating' hidden health condition that connects him to Meghan Markle

Princess Diana's brother is Prince Harry's uncle

Charles Spencer and Meghan Markle
Diane Shipley
Senior Online Writer
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Charles Spencer, the younger brother of the late Princess Diana, opened up about his health on Wednesday, during a conversation about pain relief on his podcast Rabbit Hole Detectives, which he hosts alongside the Reverend Richard Coles and historian Dr Cat Jarman. 

The Earl revealed that he experiences "debilitating" migraines that he is able to get some relief from thanks to a treatment also used by his niece-in-law Meghan Markle.  

WATCH: Charles Spencer's family home revealed

Speaking about the "agony" he experiences, Prince Harry's nephew said: "I see an acupuncturist when I get terrible migraines in patches and he's brilliant at it but the trouble is, I'm terrified of him because with that needle he brings me sort of a cascade of migraines to get rid of them as it were." 

SEE: Charles Spencer breaks silence after Prince Harry's surprise arrival in UK

Making sure he understood, Richard asked: "Do you get cluster headaches, Charles? A clump of migraines close together?" The father-of-seven confirmed that he does, adding: "I don't know why… It's agony, you know people suffer far worse but it's really debilitating.

Prince Harry and Charles Spencer at the unveiling of a Princess Diana statue© Rex
Charles with his nephew Prince Harry

"I see a migraine acupuncturist and he puts the big [needle] above your nose and it triggers them and it's a bad day but it means I probably won't have one for three weeks after that." 

Like Charles, Meghan has also found acupuncture helpful for the condition, which causes intensely painful headaches that can be accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound as well as nausea and vomiting. 

Charles Spencer smilin© Getty
The Earl opened up on his podcast

In some cases, like the Duchess', patients have to be hospitalised. "I used to have debilitating migraines (hospitalised for them)," she previously told The Chalkboard, going on to say: "Acupuncture and Eastern medicine absolutely changed my life. Migraine-free living is a game-changer." 

READ: Meghan Markle: Behind-the-scenes details of her 'explosive' interview revealed

In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends considering acupuncture as a treatment option for chronic pain, tension headaches and migraine.

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