King Charles has publicly rejected an explosive claim from his former brother-in-law, Earl Spencer, that he stated people would forget Princess Diana “soon enough” following her fatal 1997 car crash in Paris, according to reports published on September 17, 2026. Buckingham Palace issued a rare rebuttal after extracts from Earl Spencer’s new book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, surfaced in outlets including The Daily Mirror and The Daily Mail.
The Contested Phone Call Over the Royal Funeral Procession
The fiery exchange centers on preparations for the September 6, 1997, funeral at Westminster Abbey. According to Earl Spencer’s memoir, he received a phone call from then-Prince Charles to confirm that Princes William and Harry—then aged 15 and 12—would walk behind their mother’s coffin.
Earl Spencer writes that he complained about the plan, telling Charles that Diana would not have wanted her young sons to endure such a public ordeal. In his book, the earl claims Charles “went nuts” after being reminded that he had been 30 years old when he walked in the 1979 funeral procession of Lord Mountbatten. Earl Spencer writes that Charles then unleashed “pent-up contempt for Diana” and hissed, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!”
Buckingham Palace Responds to Memoir Claims
Buckingham Palace broke its usual silence regarding tell-all books to address the allegation. In a statement reported by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Mail, a palace spokesperson 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 colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.”
Prince Harry previously touched on the bitter dispute over the funeral in his own memoir, Spare, writing that several adults were aghast and that his uncle “raised hell” over forcing the two boys to walk behind the coffin.
Historical Context and Prior Family Rifts
Earl Spencer delivered a eulogy for his sister at Westminster Abbey in September 1997, an address later named one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century. Ahead of his new book’s release by Penguin Michael Joseph, the author stated that his goal was to “tell the truth about Diana from her brother’s perspective.”
The fresh revelations arrive as Prince Harry maintains a strained relationship with his father, King Charles. The publication of Swan Song risks widening existing divisions within the royal family as it revisits the tumultuous aftermath of Diana’s death at age 36, which an inquest later attributed to the gross negligence of a drunk driver, Henri Paul, alongside a relentless paparazzi pursuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Earl Spencer claim King Charles said about Princess Diana?
According to Earl Spencer’s memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, King Charles told him during a 1997 phone call regarding the funeral procession, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!”
How did Buckingham Palace respond to the claim?
Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying that while it does not comment on books as a matter of principle, the King is mindful that “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory.”
Who walked behind Princess Diana’s coffin?
Princes William and Harry, then aged 15 and 12, walked in the funeral procession alongside their father, then-Prince Charles, their uncle Earl Spencer, and Prince Philip.
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