Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, is pushing back against Buckingham Palace after the royal household issued a rare statement regarding his new memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister. The book, slated for release on September 22, includes an excerpt alleging that King Charles III told Spencer during a 1997 argument over Diana’s funeral, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!” When Buckingham Palace responded by stating that fraternal grief can cloud reason and color memory, Spencer slammed the remark in an interview with ABC News’ Maggie Rulli, calling it condescending and accusing the monarch of gaslighting.
The Funeral Argument and the Alleged Phone Call
According to excerpts published by the Daily Mail, the tension between Charles Spencer and the then-Prince of Wales began over whether Princes William and Harry—who were 15 and 12 years old at the time—should walk behind their mother’s coffin during the September 6, 1997, funeral procession. Spencer writes that during a phone debate, Charles pointed out he had walked in the funeral procession of his great uncle Lord Mountbatten in 1979. Spencer noted he had been 30 years old at the time, which reportedly caused the prince to go “nuts.” Spencer claims the future king then unleashed pent-up contempt for Diana, delivering the remark about forgetting her soon enough.
Buckingham Palace Responds to the Memoir
Buckingham Palace broke its usual protocol of ignoring books and reports about royal family members to address the excerpt. In a statement provided to ABC News on September 16, the palace said, “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 color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss.” Responding to that statement on Good Morning America, Spencer told Rulli, “Well, it’s not every day you’re gaslit by a king, but I was really upset with that because I thought it was very, not only condescending, but not straight.” He added that he was genuinely shocked by the palace’s reply.
Contrasting Accounts of Grief and Protocol
While Spencer characterizes Charles as dismissive and angry during the aftermath of Diana’s death in Paris at age 36, sources close to the King offer a drastically different portrayal of the prince’s state of mind. A source close to the King told the Daily Telegraph that the alleged comment was “just not in his nature and it certainly wasn’t in his nature at that time, when he was a man absolutely grief-stricken.” This source insisted Charles was “paralysed with grief” and noted that he actively defied protocol by insisting that Diana receive a full state-style ceremonial funeral and that her coffin be draped in the royal standard upon its return from Paris.
Did you know? Charles Spencer announced shortly after his sister’s death that Princess Diana would be buried on the grounds of Althorp Park rather than in a public royal location, ensuring her grave could be looked after privately by her family.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Charles Spencer’s book releasing?
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is scheduled for publication on September 22.
What did Buckingham Palace say about the book?
The palace stated that “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory in ways others do not recognize,” while maintaining its usual stance of not commenting on books as a matter of principle.
How did Charles Spencer respond to the palace’s statement?
In an interview with ABC News, Spencer stated, “Well, it’s not every day you’re gaslit by a king,” calling the palace’s response condescending and not straight.
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