Decades after Princess Diana’s death, Charles Spencer has reignited a bitter royal feud with his upcoming memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,
prompting a rare public rebuke from Buckingham Palace as royal experts and family tensions resurface ahead of the book’s September 22 release.
Memoir Revelations and Buckingham Palace’s Rare Pushback
Royal tensions have boiled over as Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, prepares to release his new book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, due on September 22. In response to serialized excerpts published by the Daily Mail, Buckingham Palace issued an unusually firm statement addressing the allegations leveled against King Charles III.
“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.”
Uncovering the Tumultuous History of a Doomed Marriage
The memoir also sheds light on Princess Diana’s private anguish during her marriage to the then-Prince of Wales. Writing to correct what he views as persistent untruths, the earl revealed that Diana confided in him about critical remarks made by Charles even before they exchanged vows in July 1981.
In an excerpt cited by Yahoo from the Daily Mail serialization, Spencer wrote that Diana’s insecurity increased when Charles squeezed her waist and asked, Oh, a bit chubby here, aren’t we?
in the days leading up to their wedding. The earl noted that while Charles was 32 and Diana had just turned 20, the future king often acted as though he wished his bride were closer to 35 in character and outlook.
The Explosive Dispute Over Diana’s Funeral Procession
The animosity reached a breaking point following Princess Diana’s tragic death at age 36 in August 1997, after a car crash in Paris’ Pont de l’Alma tunnel that also claimed the lives of Dodi Al-Fayed and driver Henri Paul. As detailed in reporting from AOL, a bitter row erupted over whether Prince William, then 15, and Prince Harry, then 12, should walk behind their mother’s coffin.
When a senior aide informed him of the plan, the earl firmly rejected it, telling officials, That’s not going to happen.
According to the book, Charles called shortly after to argue the point, noting he had walked in the procession for his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten in 1979 at age 30. The remark sent the prince nuts,
with Charles allegedly unleashing pent-up contempt down the phone line. Days before the funeral, Charles reportedly hissed, Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!
Loyalties and the Ongoing Althorp Connection
Decades later, the family dynamic remains sharply fractured. Royal expert Tom Bower told GB News that the memoir reflects the earl’s deep frustration, noting that Charles Spencer doesn’t like William, very pro-Harry, awfully unhappy about the way his sister was treated,
as noted by Cafemom. Prince Harry continues to maintain close ties with his mother’s family, having visited Althorp House earlier in the summer with Meghan Markle and their children.
The release of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister
coincides with the approach of the 29th anniversary of Diana’s death. Reflecting on the date, Spencer shared a photo of a flag flying at half-staff over Althorp House on Instagram, writing, 31 August.
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