Charles – the current king – privately sounded as though he had won a lottery during a phone call with Diana’s brother following the fatal crash, according to revelations in Charles Spencer’s new book, “Zwanenzang” (Swan Song).
Royal Reactions and the Funeral Dispute
Charles Spencer wrote that the prince likely viewed the fatal accident as a release that permitted him to marry Camilla, rather than focusing on the loss of Diana. The author also detailed a fiery clash with Charles over the decision to have 15-year-old William and 12-year-old Harry walk behind their mother’s coffin. Spencer called the plan “buitengewoon barbaars” (extraordinarily barbarous) and argued Diana would have never wanted it. According to the book, Charles defended the plan by citing his own experience walking behind Lord Mountbatten’s coffin at age thirty. When Spencer pointed out that Mountbatten was not his mother, Charles allegedly “ontplofte” (exploded), accused the Spencer family of lacking a sense of duty, and ended the call by stating, “Geloof me, we zullen haar snel genoeg vergeten zijn!” (Believe me, we’ll have forgotten her soon enough!). The palace responded to the claims by stating that the king recognizes grief can cloud judgment and color memories in ways others fail to recognize years later.
Childhood Memories and Family Tragedy
The book bridges Diana’s childhood with her adult years, exploring a family background marked by parental divorce and the infancy death of their baby brother, John, who died on the day he was born. Spencer and Diana grew up at Park House, where their father retained custody after their parents separated. Spencer described the upbringing as largely warm and loving, pushing back against narratives that his sister endured an entirely unhappy youth. However, the author included poignant anecdotes that complicate that claim, noting that a 7-year-old Diana frequently sat alone on the doorstep waiting for her mother to return after she left the family home. Spencer also recounted Diana’s words to her father after being dropped off at boarding school: “Als je van me hield, zou je me hier niet achterlaten.” (If you loved me, you wouldn’t leave me here.). Additional pressures included learning difficulties that impacted her self-esteem and struggles with eating disorders.
Romance and Media Pressure
Diana entered adulthood determined to marry for love to avoid the bitter divorce her parents experienced. Spencer maintained that his sister genuinely loved the prince. Later, Diana reportedly learned that Charles had danced with others instead of his fiancée at Prince Andrew’s birthday party, prompting her to attempt to break off the engagement a month before the wedding. Their father, however, told her it was impossible to back out at that stage. Reflecting on the impact of their broken home, Diana once told her brother, “We moeten accepteren dat wij twee gedoemd zijn nooit duurzaam geluk te vinden in ons liefdesleven” (We must accept that the two of us are doomed never to find lasting happiness in our love life). By age 19, Diana faced an insatiable media pack, which Spencer described as a daily torture that she endured while trying to use her position to positively influence others.
Common Questions About the Book
What is the title of Charles Spencer’s book about Diana?
The book is titled “Zwanenzang” (Swan Song), published by Hollands Diep and priced at €29.99.
What specific claim does Charles Spencer make about King Charles following the crash?
Spencer claims that during a phone call after Diana’s death, Charles sounded as though he had won a lottery, suspecting the prince was primarily relieved to be free to marry Camilla.
How did Buckingham Palace respond to the allegations?
The palace issued a statement indicating that the king understands the pain of family grief can cloud judgment and distort memories over time.
Why did Charles Spencer decide to write the book ahead of the upcoming anniversary?
With the 30-year anniversary of Diana’s death approaching in August, the 62-year-old Spencer chose to record his own memories rather than participate in television documentaries, viewing it as his duty to document the truth.
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