Charles Spencer’s new memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, reveals intense royal tensions following the 1997 death of Princess Diana. The book details controversial phone calls with King Charles III, disputed funeral arrangements, and immediate pushback from Buckingham Palace.
Almost thirty years after the fatal car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, that claimed the life of Princess Diana at age 36, fresh revelations from her brother have reopened deep wounds within the British monarchy. Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, published his memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, detailing the tumultuous atmosphere inside and outside the royal household during one of the institution’s darkest modern chapters.
Disputed Phone Calls and Tensions Over the Funeral Procession
Among the most explosive claims in the memoir involve conversations between the author and the then-Prince of Wales shortly after Diana’s death. According to the book, the current King Charles III sounded euphoric, like someone who had won the lottery, viewing the tragedy as an opening to marry Camilla, who is now queen consort, as reported by CartaCapital.
The earl also describes a contentious phone argument regarding the decision to have Prince William, then 15, and Prince Harry, then 12, walk behind their mother’s coffin during the internationally televised funeral. Spencer states he argued against exposing the grieving boys to intense media scrutiny so soon, believing royal authorities used the children as a protective shield.
Further friction arose over the funeral cortege arrangements themselves. Globo details that Prince Philip intervened firmly when disagreements surfaced about who would walk where, telling the family that no, that is not how they would do it, before ordering Charles Spencer to walk in the middle with William and Harry on either side.
Palace Pushback and Historical Revelations
The memoir touches on Queen Elizabeth II, who died in 2022, recounting that her initial reaction to the news of the fatal crash was irritation, asking O que ela fez agora?
before the severity of the incident became clear. Later, amid a severe public relations crisis over the monarchy’s delayed public response—the queen’s first public address came five days after the crash—the monarch allegedly offered to restore the post-divorce title of Her Royal Highness to Diana posthumously, an offer her brother rejected.
Buckingham Palace stated, via the memoir excerpt published by Opovo, that although as a matter of principle they do not comment on books, His Majesty is aware that the pain of sibling grief can cloud reason, affect judgment, and alter memory in ways that others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss.
Beyond royal dynamics, the book explores Diana’s personal struggles, noting that she suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and associated emotional sensitivity to rejection. Spencer also writes that Diana considered annulling her marriage after discovering a bracelet bought for Camilla, and that she frequently drove to Beachy Head while battling suicidal thoughts, stopping only because of her devotion to her sons.
Parallels to Modern Royal Exiles and Ongoing Fallout
Promoting the release, Charles Spencer drew explicit parallels between the relentless tabloid scrutiny faced by his late sister and the modern treatment endured by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, expressing deep concern for Harry’s personal security following his departure from royal functions. The memoir also brings up past encounters involving Mohamed Al Fayed, father of Dodi Al Fayed, detailing allegations of inappropriate behavior toward the princess during the early stages of her relationship with Dodi.
As the memoir lands on shelves, it forces a reluctant institution back onto the defensive. While the royal family continues its traditional stance of avoiding detailed public arguments beyond its initial statement, the book cements a lasting rift over how history records the final days of the ‘People’s Princess’ and the family dynamics that surrounded her sudden departure.