According to the forthcoming book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister by Charles Spencer, a sharp telephone dispute erupted between the author and the future British monarch regarding the funeral procession of Princes William and Harry in August 1997. Reported by the Daily Mail, the clash occurred days after Diana died in a Paris car crash, when the young princes, then aged 15 and 12, walked behind their mother’s coffin.
The Telephone Dispute Over the Funeral Procession
Charles Spencer opposed the decision to have Princes William and Harry participate in the procession, arguing that the princess would not have wanted them to take part. According to Spencer’s book excerpts published by the Daily Mail, the future monarch lost his temper during a phone call with Diana’s brother.
“Into the phone he spewed what I always regarded as his suppressed contempt for Diana, and dismay at how deeply the world’s grief had wounded him,” Spencer writes. “‘Be sure,’ he hissed, ‘we’ll soon forget her!’”
Buckingham Palace Responds to the Memoir Claims
Buckingham Palace issued a public statement addressing the claims, which the British press labeled as shocking. “While we do not comment on books as a matter of course, His Majesty is aware that the pain of sibling grief can obscure reason, affect judgment, and color memory in ways others do not realize—even many years after such a loss,” the palace stated.
Diana was at one time the most popular member of the British royal family, and her death provoked widespread public criticism directed at the institution for perceived coldness. During the funeral, Spencer vowed that Diana’s “blood family” would protect William and Harry so their souls were not “simply engulfed by duty and tradition.”
Princes William and Harry on the Funeral Experience
Both princes have spoken publicly in subsequent years about the psychological toll of walking behind the coffin. Prince Harry stated in a recent interview that no child should be asked to do so under any circumstances, noting that thousands watched their public grief at a tender age. Prince William previously described feeling completely numb, disoriented, and dizzy throughout the ceremony.
In August, Prince Harry traveled to Britain with his wife Meghan and their two children, visiting Charles Spencer at his ancestral estate, Althorp House, where Diana is buried, according to the Daily Mail.
Did you know?
Althorp House is the ancestral home of Charles Spencer and serves as the final resting place of Diana.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister?
The book was written by Charles Spencer, the brother of Diana.
What was the main source of tension during the 1997 funeral?
According to published book excerpts, tension arose over the decision to have Princes William and Harry walk in the funeral procession behind their mother’s coffin.
How did Buckingham Palace respond to the claims in the book?
The palace released a statement acknowledging that sibling grief can affect judgment and color memory years after a loss, while maintaining its usual policy of not commenting directly on books.
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