King Charles allegedly told Earl Spencer days after the 1997 death of Diana, Princess of Wales, that “rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough,” according to an upcoming memoir cited by the Daily Mail and the BBC. The disputed remark reportedly emerged during a heated telephone argument over funeral arrangements, specifically regarding whether Princes William and Harry should walk in the procession.
The Funeral Procession Dispute and Alleged Remark
According to Earl Spencer’s memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, the conflict began when a senior Palace aide informed him that Princes William, then 15, and Harry, then 12, would participate in the procession behind their mother’s coffin. Earl Spencer reportedly told the aide, “That’s not going to happen,” as reported by the Daily Mail. Minutes later, the then-Prince of Wales telephoned him to insist the young princes take part.
During the ensuing argument, Charles allegedly made the remark that Spencer describes as unleashing “his pent-up contempt for Diana, and his horror that the world was so bowled over by her death.” As detailed in the book excerpts, Charles hissed down the phone line: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!” Spencer wrote that he took a few seconds to reply before stating flatly, “I can’t believe you just said that,” and hanging up.
Buckingham Palace Response and Historical Context
Responding to the memoir’s claims, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson stated: “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 exchange highlights long-standing tensions surrounding the public mourning period following Diana’s death at age 36 in a Paris car crash.
Did you know? Prince Harry previously recounted his experience walking behind his mother’s coffin at age 12, telling the BBC in 2017 that while he didn’t have an immediate opinion on whether it was right or wrong at the time, looking back he was glad to have participated, though he has also stated no child should be asked to do so.
Publication Details and Security Incident
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is scheduled for worldwide publication next Tuesday by Penguin Michael Joseph, a division of Penguin Random House. Ahead of the release, logistics faced an unexpected hurdle when four copies of the Dutch-language edition were stolen from a delivery truck en route from the printer to a warehouse in the Netherlands, according to reporting by the BBC. Earl Spencer noted that he chose to write the book to present Diana’s perspective from her brother’s viewpoint ahead of the 30th anniversary of her death next year, avoiding the need to read external opinions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Earl Spencer’s book being published?
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is set for release next Tuesday by Penguin Michael Joseph.
What did Buckingham Palace say about the memoir’s claims?
A Palace spokesperson issued a statement noting that the King is mindful that fraternal grief can cloud reason and color memory over time, while maintaining a policy of not commenting on books directly.
Why did Earl Spencer write the memoir?
Spencer stated he wanted to share his own thoughts and memories of Diana from a brother’s perspective ahead of the upcoming 30th anniversary of her death, rather than repeatedly reading external opinions.
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