Earl Spencer Doubles Down on Memoir Claims Concerning King Charles and Diana’s Funeral
In an extract of a BBC interview released on Friday, the earl insisted he is telling the truth and described the King’s comments about his late sister as monstrous. According to the earl, the remarks occurred during a heated dispute regarding whether Princes William and Harry should walk behind Diana’s funeral cortege, as reported by the BBC and the Daily Mail.
The disclosures stem from a new memoir by Earl Spencer chronicling the life of Diana. The publication has drawn an unprecedented response from Buckingham Palace, with representatives stating that “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason,” according to the BBC.
Clashes Over Funeral Arrangements and Prince Harry’s Well-Being
Recounting the tensions surrounding the funeral procession on September 6, 1997, Earl Spencer alleged that the then-Prince Charles “went ballistic” over family duties. The earl stated in the memoir that he argued Diana “never would have wanted” her sons to walk behind her coffin, prompting a retort from Charles that his family had “no bloody sense of duty,” as serialized in the Daily Mail.
During the train journey from London to Althorp after the funeral, Earl Spencer noted a lack of obvious care for 12-year-old Prince Harry. The earl observed that his nephew looked tiny, slight, and bereft, and wrote that Harry was “too small to be doing this” and needed his mother’s hugs instead of being allowed to spin out of control.
Did you know? Earl Spencer walked behind Diana’s coffin during the funeral procession alongside Princes William and Harry, Charles, and the late Duke of Edinburgh.
Late Queen Elizabeth II’s Reactions and Title Offers
The memoir also details interactions involving the late Queen Elizabeth II. Earl Spencer claimed that when the Queen first heard news of Diana’s traffic accident, she asked tetchily, “What is she up to now?” before the full seriousness of the crash became clear.
Later, on the train journey to Althorp, the earl recounted that Robert Fellowes, the late Queen’s private secretary, relayed an offer from Elizabeth to restore Diana’s “Her Royal Highness” title. Earl Spencer recalled telling Fellowes that while the offer was very kind, he failed to see the point, noting simply that “Diana’s dead.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Earl Spencer allege King Charles said about Princess Diana?
How did Buckingham Palace respond to the memoir’s claims?
Buckingham Palace issued an unprecedented response to the memoir, stating that “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason,” as reported by the BBC.
What did the earl observe about Prince Harry after the funeral?
Earl Spencer wrote in the Daily Mail serialization that he was concerned by a lack of obvious care for Prince Harry on the train to Althorp, describing the 12-year-old prince as bereft and needing his mother’s hugs.
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