A new memoir by Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer and younger brother of the late Princess Diana, has been released, rekindling long-standing family disputes nearly three decades after the princess’s death. The book, titled “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” went on sale globally through Penguin and has been translated into twelve languages.
The release has sparked a significant clash within the British royal family. Prior to the book’s official launch, excerpts containing explosive allegations prompted King Charles III to issue a rare rebuttal through Buckingham Palace.
Among the most striking claims in the memoir is Spencer’s assertion that King Charles sounded “giddily elated” and compared his mood to that of a “lottery winner” during a telephone call immediately following Diana’s death in 1997. Additionally, Spencer writes that he strongly opposed the decision for Princes William and Harry to walk in their mother’s funeral procession. He claims Charles “went ballistic” during their argument, telling him: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”
At the time of the funeral, Prince William was 15 years old and Prince Harry was 12. Images of the young princes walking behind Diana’s coffin captivated viewers worldwide.
In response to the pre-publication excerpts, Buckingham Palace issued a strongly worded statement addressing Spencer’s allegations. “His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss,” the statement read, marking an unusual level of direct engagement from the royal household.
Diana married Charles, then the Prince of Wales, in 1981 at age 20. Their relationship deteriorated publicly, culminating in a 1996 divorce. Diana had previously stated in a famous BBC interview that there were “three of us” in the marriage, referencing Charles’s relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles. Often referred to as the “people’s princess,” Diana’s immense popularity subjected her to relentless media scrutiny throughout her adult life.
Diana died at age 36 in a car crash in Paris while being pursued by paparazzi. Charles married Parker Bowles in 2005. Spencer has a history of public disagreement with the House of Windsor regarding how they treated his sister.
The quote about forgetting her soon enough is horrifying. No human should hear that from their father on the day of their mother’s funeral.
I read the book. Spencer’s account is compelling, but surely William and Harry have their own perspective on those funeral days?
Thirty years on and this family drama still dominates headlines. It’s tragic that their mother’s legacy remains this toxic.
Does anyone else think the Palace response was a bit passive-aggressive? Calling grief ‘cloudy’ seems like a cheap shot at Earl Spencer.
I can’t believe Charles sounded so joyful right after his wife died. That is absolutely chilling and explains so much.