Earl Spencer claimed in his memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister that King Charles went “ballistic” during a tense phone call following Princess Diana’s death in 1997. According to the Daily Mail serialisation and BBC reports, the Earl alleged the then-Prince of Wales remarked that the Spencer family’s sense of duty was criticised and that “We’ll forget her soon enough.” Buckingham Palace issued a rare public statement responding to the book.
Telephone Confrontations
The memoir details a severe clash between King Charles and Earl Spencer. According to Earl Spencer’s account reported by the BBC, Charles grew furious during a telephone conversation and launched into an extended tirade criticising the Spencer family’s sense of duty before making the remark about Diana being forgotten.
When questioned about the exchange during a BBC interview, Earl Spencer defended his recollection. He stated he had only ever spoken with Charles on two occasions in his life, making him “hyper-alert” to the exact words used. “I told friends and family straight away, close friends and family, about what had been said, because it was so monstrous,” the Earl told the BBC, adding that he questioned whether the King’s official reaction stemmed from anger or shame.
Did you know?
Buckingham Palace rarely responds to published memoirs or biographical claims. The decision to issue a statement regarding Swan Song: Diana, My Sister marks a departure from standard royal communication protocols.
Claims Concerning Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Titles
Earl Spencer also alleged that the late Queen Elizabeth II reacted with irritation when she first received news of Diana’s car crash in Paris, asking “What is she up to now?” before the gravity of the situation became clear, according to excerpts published by the Daily Mail. Furthermore, the memoir claims that the late monarch’s private secretary, Robert Fellowes, approached the Earl hours after the eulogy at Westminster Abbey to offer a posthumous restoration of Diana’s Her Royal Highness (HRH) title.
The Earl wrote that he rejected the gesture, stating “I felt that I knew in my bones how she would view this posthumous award.” According to his book, he told Fellowes: “That’s very kind of the Queen, of course. But what’s the point, Robert? Now? I mean Diana’s dead.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Buckingham Palace say about Earl Spencer’s memoir?
Buckingham Palace took the unusual step of issuing a public comment, departing from its standard practice of declining to respond to published works.
What specific claims did Earl Spencer make about King Charles?
According to his book and BBC interviews, Earl Spencer alleged that Charles went “ballistic” during a phone call, stated that the Spencers lacked a sense of duty, and remarked that Diana would be forgotten “soon enough.”
Did Queen Elizabeth II offer to restore Diana’s HRH title?
Yes. Earl Spencer claimed in his memoir that the late Queen’s private secretary offered to posthumously restore Diana’s HRH title hours after the eulogy at Westminster Abbey, an offer the Earl declined.
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