A new memoir by Charles Spencer, brother of Princess Diana, claims King Charles III allegedly told him Diana would be forgotten after her 1997 death, sparking a royal feud. The book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, also alleges Charles was “giddily elatedat her passing and
always extremely jealous” of her fame, according to multiple outlets.
Charles Spencer’s memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, has reignited tensions between the royal family and the Spencer clan, with the author alleging King Charles III expressed relief at Diana’s death and dismissed her legacy. The book, released on September 22, 2026, claims Charles told Spencer during a 1997 argument over Diana’s funeral arrangements, Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough,
according to AP News.
Allegations of Royal Disrespect and Jealousy
Spencer’s account paints Charles as a figure of “contempt” for Diana, citing multiple grievances. The book alleges Charles told Diana during their 1981 engagement, he was very happy to marry her, but he was not actually in love with her,
and criticized her weight, contributing to her eating disorder. The Conversation highlights these claims, framing Charles as a bellowing buffoon
and always extremely jealous
of Diana’s star power.
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Spencer also recounts that after the death of Spencer and Diana’s father, Charles reportedly told the earl: You’re just so lucky – you know inheriting when you’re so young!
, a comment the author interprets as resentment over Charles’s delayed ascension to the throne. The memoir further claims Charles disrespected Diana and disparaged the Spencer family’s sense of duty,
as reported by The Conversation.
Royal Palace Pushes Back
Buckingham Palace responded to the allegations with a rare, firm statement, asserting, 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.
This statement, cited by AP News, underscores the monarchy’s reluctance to engage directly with the claims, instead emphasizing emotional bias.
Spencer has stood by his assertions, insisting to the BBC that he is telling the truth, and asking: Is he furious or is he embarrassed?
The Palace’s response has been interpreted as a defensive maneuver, with the sources noting the “war of words” between Spencer and royal officials.
Legal Drama and Media Accusations
The book also thrusts media figure Piers Morgan into the spotlight. On Tuesday, British commentator and journalist Piers Morgan announced he is suing Spencer and his publishers over demonstrable lies
in the book, chiefly Spencer’s wrongful claim that Morgan was editor of the Daily Mirror when it published intrusive photos of Diana working out in a leotard. While Spencer has since apologised to Morgan for the factual error, he stands by other claims about Morgan and the media’s role in Diana’s death, stating, I always believed the press would kill her in the end.
The Conversation notes this conflict, which has drawn public attention to the book’s credibility.
Spencer’s memoir, described as marketed as the most intimate, loving and honest portrait
of Diana, also delves into personal memories, including their shared fear of the dark and his mother’s belief that he knew Diana better than anyone. These anecdotes, detailed in The Conversation, frame the book as both a tribute and a reckoning with decades of royal and media scrutiny.
A Legacy Revisited
Diana’s brother flips the royal family the bird in
The release of Swan Song has reignited debates about Diana’s legacy and the royal family’s treatment of its members. Spencer’s accusations, while contentious, reflect long-standing tensions between the Spencers and the monarchy, amplified by the media’s role in shaping public perception. As the sources note, the book arrives nearly three decades after his sister Diana’s death, underscoring the enduring impact of her life and the unresolved conflicts surrounding it.
Spencer, a former journalist and historian with nine non-fiction books to his name, including four Sunday Times bestsellers, knows how to tell a story. His first memoir, about surviving boarding school, was described by the Guardian as combining righteous anger with therapeutic honesty.
In Swan Song, his second memoir, he positions himself as Diana’s fierce defender—a role he came to embrace as her youngest sibling, childhood playmate and only surviving brother, according to The Conversation.
The book, published by Michael Joseph, was billed as revealing the true framework of Diana’s life
and was marketed as the most intimate, loving and honest portrait
of the princess. It includes over 350 pages of Spencer’s litany of grievances, which swamps the loving tribute he ostensibly set out to write. The memoir’s release coincides with the book being published on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
Spencer’s allegations have drawn comparisons to previous disputes over Diana’s legacy, including her funeral arrangements. The book revisits the clash over palace plans for Prince William and Prince Harry, then 15 and 12, to walk behind their mother’s coffin during her 1997 funeral procession, a decision Spencer claims Diana would not have wanted. The AP photo archives from Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, show copies of Swan Song on display in a bookshop in central London, highlighting the public’s ongoing fascination with the royal family’s private conflicts.
The legal and public fallout from Swan Song reflects the enduring power of Diana’s memory and the complexities of royal accountability. As the book’s release underscores, the Spencers and the monarchy remain locked in a fraught dialogue over history, grief, and the weight of legacy.