Buckingham Palace has issued a rare statement denying claims made by Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, that King Charles III expressed contempt for his late wife during a 1997 phone call. The allegations, detailed in Spencer’s upcoming memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, describe a heated exchange following Diana’s death in a Paris car crash. According to the book, Charles allegedly told Spencer, Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!
King Charles Denies Allegations of Contempt for Princess Diana
The statement from the Palace, released in response to excerpts published by The Daily Mail, emphasized 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 declined to comment on books as a matter of principle.
Context of the Funeral Decision
The controversy centers on the decision for Prince William and Prince Harry, then 15 and 12, to walk behind their mother’s coffin during her 1997 funeral procession. Spencer, the 9th Earl of Spencer, has long criticized the choice, calling it bizarre and cruel.
In his memoir, he recounts confronting Charles over the matter, alleging the king’s pent-up contempt for Diana
during their call.
Prince Harry later echoed similar sentiments in his 2023 memoir Spare, describing the decision as “barbaric” and noting that several adults were aghast.
The funeral, held on September 6, 1997, drew global attention, with the royal family facing criticism for its perceived distance from public mourning.
Book Release and Theft Concerns
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is set to be released on September 22. The book’s excerpts, published by The Daily Mail, have already sparked significant media scrutiny. Meanwhile, four copies of the book were stolen from a truck in the Netherlands, with authorities investigating the incident as extremely suspicious.
A publishing source described the theft as unprecedented, given the book’s anticipated impact.
Spencer, who wrote the memoir as a brother’s simple tribute to an extraordinary sister,
has previously spoken out against the funeral arrangement.
Public and Royal Reactions
The allegations have reignited discussions about the royal family’s handling of Diana’s legacy. While some public figures have supported Charles, others have aligned with Spencer’s account. Royal correspondent India McTaggart noted that the Palace’s response aimed to get ahead of some of the allegations
expected from the memoir.
Diana, who married Charles in 1981, divorced him in 1996. She died a year later at age 36. Her funeral remains one of the most iconic moments in modern royal history, with her brother and sons among those walking behind her coffin. The Palace’s statement, while not directly addressing the allegations, underscored the enduring emotional weight of the events.
Historical Background and Ongoing Impact
Diana’s death and the subsequent royal response have been extensively documented. Her marriage to Charles, which ended in 1996, was marked by public scrutiny and personal turmoil. The couple’s divorce followed a period of public separation, with their sons’ participation in the funeral procession becoming a focal point of controversy.
Spencer’s memoir is the latest in a series of accounts challenging the royal family’s narrative. The Palace’s refusal to engage with book-related claims highlights its longstanding policy of avoiding direct commentary on such matters. However, the current response—described as unusually forceful
by NBC News—signals heightened sensitivity to the allegations.
The release of Swan Song coincides with ongoing public interest in Diana’s legacy, as well as the royal family’s efforts to manage its image amid evolving media landscapes.