Charles Spencer’s new memoir revisits Princess Diana’s troubled marriage, her death and his claims about King Charles’ reaction, prompting a strong response from Buckingham Palace.
Charles Spencer, the younger brother of the late Princess Diana, has reignited tensions surrounding the British royal family with a new book revisiting his sister’s troubled marriage to King Charles and the events surrounding her death.
Spencer’s new book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, explores Diana’s life, her relationship with then-Prince Charles and the difficult years leading up to her death in 1997. The book is being published Tuesday, with excerpts already prompting a strong response from Buckingham Palace.
In the memoir, Spencer makes several claims about King Charles’ behavior following Diana’s death. He alleges that Charles appeared “giddily elated” after the tragedy and claims the King later said that people would soon forget Diana.
Spencer, 62, describes himself as an “eyewitness to history” and says he felt a personal responsibility to document his memories of Diana and the circumstances surrounding her marriage, separation and death.
Buckingham Palace has challenged Spencer’s account, suggesting that grief can affect a person’s recollection of events. In its response, the Palace referred to “fraternal grief” as a factor that could influence judgment and memory.
The exchange has renewed attention on one of the most difficult periods in the modern history of the British monarchy.
Spencer was born into one of Britain’s prominent aristocratic families and had close links with the royal family. Queen Elizabeth II was his godmother.
He was 17 when Diana married then-Prince Charles in 1981. The wedding became a global event, although Spencer later recalled that he was more focused on school examinations and sports than on the historic significance of the ceremony.
Diana and Charles had two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, but their marriage gradually deteriorated. By the early 1990s, their marital problems had become an international news story.
Spencer has said he did not fully understand the extent of Diana’s difficulties at the time and has expressed regret that he could not do more to support his sister.
Charles and Diana divorced in 1996. Diana died the following year in a Paris car crash at age 36 while traveling with her companion Dodi Fayed. Their vehicle was being pursued by photographers.
Spencer delivered a widely remembered eulogy at Diana’s funeral, praising her compassion and describing her unique impact on people. Some of his remarks also created tension with the royal family, particularly his suggestion that Diana’s family would protect her sons.
His latest book revisits those tensions. Spencer claims Charles reacted angrily when he questioned whether William and Harry, who were teenagers at the time, should walk behind their mother’s coffin during the funeral procession.
Spencer has also disputed Buckingham Palace’s suggestion that grief may have affected his recollection. He described the response as deeply provocative and said it effectively questioned his honesty without allowing the King to directly answer his allegations.
Beyond his connection to Diana, Spencer has established a career as a historian, author and broadcaster. He studied history at Oxford University and later worked for NBC News for about a decade, presenting lifestyle and travel programs.
He inherited the Spencer family’s Althorp estate after his father’s death in 1992. The historic property has remained in the family for centuries and is also where Princess Diana was laid to rest.
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