Earl Spencer Defends Diana Book Claims About King Charles
Published · Updated
TL;DR
Earl Spencer defends his claim that King Charles said Diana would be 'forgotten soon enough', with Buckingham Palace pushing back on the accuracy of his memory.
Why now
Spencer's memoir is being serialised this week, reviving the most sensitive moment in modern royal history just as the family tries to move forward with events like the AI summit and Harry's return.
Agree / conflict
Earl Spencer insists he is telling the truth; Buckingham Palace implies grief may have clouded his judgment, creating a direct clash of credibility with no third-party evidence.
Takeaway
The Diana legacy still haunts the Windsors, and this controversy shows how quickly old wounds can reopen, especially when a family insider publishes a detailed account.
Earl Spencer has doubled down on allegations that King Charles told him 'we'll forget her soon enough' after Diana's death, insisting in an exclusive BBC interview that those were 'exactly' the words spoken. The Palace responded with a rare statement that suggested Spencer's memory may be unreliable due to grief, but Spencer rejected that, saying he told family at the time because the remark was 'so monstrous'. Additional extracts from the book claim Charles sounded 'giddily elated' on the night of the crash, like a 'lottery winner'. The controversy has overshadowed King Charles's AI summit and comes as Prince Harry and Meghan have quietly returned to the UK. Spencer's memoir, 'Swan Song', is due out next week and is expected to contain further criticism of the royal family. The war of words marks one of the most direct public confrontations between the Palace and a family member since the Sussexes' claims in 2021.
FAQ
What exactly did Earl Spencer claim about King Charles?
Spencer alleges that days after Diana's death, then-Prince Charles said 'we'll forget her soon enough' during a heated phone call about whether William and Harry should walk behind Diana's coffin. He also claims Charles sounded 'giddily elated' when speaking on the night of the crash.
How did Buckingham Palace respond?
The Palace issued a rare statement saying the King is 'mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise' – effectively questioning Spencer's recollection.
Does Earl Spencer have any evidence?
He says he told family and friends at the time what Charles said, but no recording or documented proof has been presented. He insists he is 'telling the truth' and stands by his account.
Why is this book causing such a stir?
Diana remains a beloved figure, and any suggestion that the royal family was callous after her death touches a raw nerve. The Palace's unusually direct rebuttal also signals the seriousness of the allegations.
How does this relate to Prince Harry and Meghan?
Harry has previously said walking behind his mother's coffin was 'something no child should be asked to do'. The Spencer book adds fuel to the family's ongoing public relations challenges, especially with the Sussexes now back in the UK.
Sources
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