A new memoir by Princess Diana’s brother has reignited questions about the aftermath of her death, with an extraordinary claim about a conversation involving King Charles emerging just days after the 29th anniversary of her death.
Earl Spencer is preparing to publish Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, a deeply personal account of his relationship with his late sister and the events surrounding her death in 1997.
Among the claims reportedly contained in the book is an alleged conversation between Spencer and Charles, who was still the Prince of Wales at the time.
According to reports, the pair became involved in a heated dispute over arrangements for Diana’s funeral, particularly the decision to have her young sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, walk behind their mother’s coffin.
Spencer claims that the argument became increasingly heated before Charles allegedly made a remark about Diana that has now prompted a rare response from Buckingham Palace.
Diana’s death changed the royal family forever
Diana died on August 31, 1997, following a car crash in Paris. She was 36 years old.
Her death prompted an extraordinary outpouring of grief across Britain and around the world, with huge crowds gathering outside royal residences and millions watching her funeral on television.
The aftermath also created one of the most difficult periods for the monarchy in modern times.
The public reaction to Diana’s death was immense, while the Royal Family’s initial reserved approach to the tragedy was met with criticism from sections of the British public.
Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, reportedly opposed the decision for Prince William and Prince Harry, then just 15 and 12, to walk behind their mother’s coffin during her funeral procession in London. According to excerpts from Spencer’s forthcoming memoir, he argued that the boys were too young to endure such a public display of grief. He reportedly clashed with then-Prince Charles, who compared the situation to his own experience walking in a funeral procession for Lord Mountbatten when he was 30.
The most controversial claim in Spencer’s memoir concerns an alleged remark Charles made during their conversation. Spencer reportedly describes Charles as expressing anger over the public reaction to Diana’s death before allegedly saying, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!” Spencer says he ended the conversation immediately. However, the claim has not been independently verified, and reports note that the full memoir had not yet been published.
Spencer says the book was partly written to defend Diana against what he considers untrue claims about his sister. He also played a major role at her funeral, delivering an emotional eulogy and promising that Diana’s family would protect William and Harry. The brothers have since spoken about the experience, with Harry questioning whether children should ever be expected to walk behind their mother’s coffin while grieving, while William recalled feeling numb and disorientated after Diana’s death.
The memoir has already attracted attention after reports that four copies were allegedly stolen while being transported in the Netherlands, with details later appearing in the media. Buckingham Palace has responded to the controversy, saying it does not normally comment on books but noting that grief can affect memory and judgment over time. Spencer’s account remains his recollection of events, and further details may emerge once the full memoir is published.