Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, is facing sharp condemnation from royal allies over his upcoming memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister. The book features explosive claims about King Charles, including an alleged callous phone call made after Diana’s 1997 death and severe criticisms regarding Prince Harry’s treatment.
A bitter war of words has erupted between Buckingham Palace and Earl Charles Spencer ahead of the September publication of his highly anticipated memoir. The book, titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, has already triggered extraordinary public rebuttals from the royal household and figures close to the monarch, shining a harsh light on decades-old grievances surrounding Princess Diana’s tragic death.
The Phone Call at the Center of the Royal Feud
The most incendiary claim in the memoir centers on a telephone conversation between the then-Prince of Wales and Earl Spencer in the immediate wake of Diana’s death in a Paris car crash on 31 August 1997. According to serialised extracts published by the Daily Mail, Earl Spencer alleges that Charles told him, Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.
Furthermore, the earl claimed in an interview with the BBC that Charles sounded giddily elated
during the call, comparing his tone to that of a lottery winner
(according to the BBC). In response to the escalating controversy, Buckingham Palace took the rare step of issuing a public statement on behalf of King Charles.
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.
Buckingham Palace, Royal Household Statement
Undeterred by the Palace’s rebuke, Earl Spencer hit back during an interview at his Althorp estate with BBC journalist Laura Kuenssberg. I can tell you here and now, those are exactly the words he said,
the 62-year-old earl stated, maintaining that he told friends and family about the remark straight away because he found it monstrous.
Ally Pushback and Althorp Security Measures
Meanwhile, attention has also turned to Althorp House, the 550-acre Northamptonshire estate that serves as Diana’s childhood home and final resting place. A fresh photograph taken on August 20, 2026, revealed a stern message to visitors: a sign warning of 24-hour security across the property. The earl takes the protection of the estate very seriously, maintaining strict privacy around the Oval Lake where his sister is buried.
Accusations Over Prince Harry’s Treatment and the Funeral Procession
Beyond the telephone dispute, the memoir takes direct aim at how the Royal Family managed grieving children following Diana’s passing. Earl Spencer writes that a 12-year-old Prince Harry needed Diana’s hugs
but was instead allowed to spin out of control, arguing that a more caring hand would have helped him enormously in the future.
The earl also reflects on the harrowing nature of the funeral procession on September 6, 1997, describing it as a form of mental torture
(as reported by the Daily Mail). He questions the presence of both King Charles and the young princes in the procession, noting how small and bereft Prince Harry appeared during the ordeal.
Rejections of Posthumous Honors and What Lies Ahead
In another revelation from the book, the author details that immediately after the funeral, while traveling by Royal Train to Althorp, he was informed that the late Queen Elizabeth II had offered to posthumously restore Princess Diana’s Her Royal Highness title. He rejected the offer, calling it a well-meaning gesture but ultimately a consolation award
that came too late (according to CheatSheet).
The release of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister by publisher Michael Joseph, an imprint of Penguin Random House, comes as Althorp House closed its doors to the public on August 31, marking 29 years since the princess’s death. With the memoir arriving ahead of the 30th anniversary year in 2027, royal commentators note that ongoing family tensions continue to cast a shadow over significant household moments, leaving observers to watch whether future anniversaries will prompt any reconciliation between Prince Harry and the rest of the family.