Ken Wharfe, a former bodyguard for Princess Diana, stated on September 29, 2026, that the late princess would have endorsed her brother Charles Spencer for publishing an exposing memoir about the British royal family. Spencer released Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, detailing alleged mistreatment by his royal in-laws and claiming then-Prince Charles sounded jubilant like a “lottery winner” following Diana’s 1997 death.
Ken Wharfe Defends Charles Spencer’s Memoir Disclosures
Wharfe asserted in a Vanity Fair interview that Spencer’s book serves as a direct continuation of the eulogy Spencer delivered at Diana’s 1997 funeral, where neither the media nor the royal family was spared. Wharfe worked as a protection officer for Princes William and Harry in 1986 before guarding Princess Diana from 1987 until 1993. Diana died in a Paris car crash in 1997.
Addressing accusations that Spencer penned the book out of revenge, Wharfe defended Spencer’s actions. “Is he taking revenge? Yes, probably. As a brother, I think he has every right to do so,” Wharfe told the magazine. “I believe him and his version of events. I don’t see why he would make this up.” Wharfe emphasized that Spencer acted as Diana’s sounding board, noting that “everything ended up with him” and that Spencer protected her as a brother.
Buckingham Palace Responds to Claims of Charles’s Reaction
Among the book’s central claims, Spencer writes that King Charles remarked that Diana would be “soon forgotten” after her death. These assertions prompted a rare public statement from Buckingham Palace. The royal household stated that the King is fully aware that “the grief within the family can cloud the reasonable capacity,” breaking the palace’s traditional silence on claims made in published memoirs.
Spencer has separately asserted in promotional interviews surrounding the book’s launch that he intentionally withheld even harsher stories regarding King Charles, positioning himself as an eyewitness to history. Wharfe noted he harbors no doubts regarding the veracity of Spencer’s accounts, reinforcing the perspective that the sibling dynamic gave Spencer unique insight into Diana’s private struggles.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Memoir Controversy
Who wrote Swan Song: Diana, My Sister?
The book was written by Charles Spencer, the brother of Princess Diana.
What was Ken Wharfe’s connection to Princess Diana?
Wharfe served as a personal bodyguard for Princess Diana from 1987 to 1993, and previously guarded Princes William and Harry in 1986.
How did Buckingham Palace respond to the book’s claims?
The Palace issued a rare response acknowledging that grief within the family can cloud a person’s reasonable capacity, departing from its usual policy of not commenting on royal books.