Charles Spencer’s new memoir details Princess Diana’s thoughts of suicide and contains the claim that King Charles sounded “giddily elated” after her 1997 death, according to Reuters and BBC reports. Buckingham Palace countered the publication by stating that the king remains “mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, judgment and memory,” according to Reuters.
Memoir Release and Palace Response
The memoir arrives on sale following pre-released excerpts that drew intense public scrutiny, according to Reuters. Charles Spencer, who delivered the eulogy at his sister’s 1997 funeral, writes that his phone call with Charles shortly after Diana’s death left him feeling the prince sounded “like a lottery winner,” as reported by Reuters. Buckingham Palace responded by issuing a statement arguing that grief can cloud a person’s recollection, according to BBC coverage.
Spencer later criticized that palace statement in an interview with The Mail on Sunday, stating, “It is not every day you wake up to find you’ve been gaslit by the king.” He also compared the phrasing to the palace’s reaction to Prince Harry and Meghan’s claims of royal racism five years prior, when officials stated that “recollections may vary,” according to reports.
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Details of Diana’s Struggles and Divorce
The book touches upon the tumultuous marriage between Charles and Diana from 1981 to 1996, which was a constant fixture in British newspapers, according to the BBC. Spencer reveals that Diana contemplated suicide at times, driving down to Beachy Head, a clifftop in southern England, but her love for her sons William and Harry stopped her from going further, as noted by the BBC.
Spencer also recounts that Diana told him her marriage was ending because Charles was “in love with his valet,” adding in his text that he did not ask why she believed such an improbable thing, according to BBC reporting. Charles later married Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005, who is now the queen, as detailed by Reuters.
Disputed Claims and Criticisms
Several biographical figures and royal commentators have publicly questioned the accuracy of assertions made in the book. Royal biographer Robert Hardman wrote on X that he personally witnessed Charles looking “distraught and in tears” at Diana’s funeral, directly challenging the depiction of elation, according to BBC reports.
Andrew Morton, author of the 1992 book “Diana: Her True Story,” stated in a comment published in The Times that Spencer’s claims regarding the phone call with Charles were “incendiary and disputed,” according to the BBC. Additionally, royal commentator Jennie Bond characterized the memoir as a “vindictive account” in an interview with the BBC.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Charles Spencer’s memoir go on sale?
The memoir goes on sale on Tuesday, following widespread media coverage of pre-released excerpts, according to Reuters.
How has Buckingham Palace responded to the book?
Buckingham Palace stated that the king is “mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, judgment and memory,” as reported by Reuters.
What specific claims does the book make about King Charles?
The book claims that King Charles sounded “giddily elated” like a “lottery winner” during a phone call with Spencer shortly after Diana’s death in 1997, according to Reuters.
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