Buckingham Palace issued a rare and forceful denial after claims surfaced that King Charles III remarked his first wife, Diana, would soon be forgotten in the days following her tragic 1997 death, according to statements released Wednesday. The assertion appears in a soon-to-be-published memoir by Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess of Wales, detailing the emotional fallout of the car crash in Paris that killed Diana at age 36.
Memoir Excerpts Spark Palace Pushback
The controversy centers on an excerpt from Spencer’s upcoming book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which was first published in an extract by The Daily Mail. According to the text, a heated telephone exchange occurred between the then-Prince Charles and Spencer regarding whether Princes William and Harry—then 15 and 12 years old—should walk behind their mother’s coffin in the public funeral procession.
Spencer writes that he argued Diana would not have wanted her sons to endure such an ordeal. He claims this sentiment was met with a stream of anger from Charles, who allegedly unleashed pent-up contempt for Diana and frustration over the global reaction to her death. Spencer writes that Charles hissed, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”
In response to the allegations, Buckingham Palace released a direct statement challenging the account and suggesting that grief may have altered Spencer’s perception over the decades. “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,” the palace stated Wednesday.
Did you know?
Diana’s 1997 funeral procession through central London is etched into modern memory.
Media Reaction and Royal Precedents
India McTaggart, a royal correspondent at The Telegraph, told NBC News that the memoir is expected to contain several incendiary claims. “Perhaps this was the palace trying to get on the front foot and get ahead of some of the allegations we expect to see,” McTaggart said.
When Prince Harry published his autobiography Spare in 2023, featuring detailed accounts of family fractures, the royal household mostly avoided public comment. The most notable recent intervention prior to this occurred in 2021, when Queen Elizabeth II issued a brief statement regarding racism allegations made by Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, famously noting that “recollections may vary.”
McTaggart noted that the palace is bracing for continued media attention as the book hits shelves. Meanwhile, working members of the family, including King Charles, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Prince Harry, continue with their respective public engagements in Britain, drawing intense scrutiny over how their paths and schedules intersect.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Charles Spencer’s memoir being published?
The book, titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is scheduled for publication next week, with serialized extracts appearing in the Daily Mail.
What did Buckingham Palace say about the claims?
The palace issued a statement arguing that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment, and color memory over time, while maintaining a general policy of not commenting on books.
Did Princes William and Harry walk in Diana’s funeral?
Yes. Alongside their uncle Charles Spencer, Princes William and Harry walked solemnly behind their mother’s coffin during the 1997 funeral procession in London.
Join the Conversation
What are your thoughts on how the royal family handles memoirs and historical accounts? Share your perspective in the comments below, or subscribe to our newsletter for daily updates on the British monarchy.
Keep reading