A new book by Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, has reignited debate over the royal family’s handling of her death and its aftermath.
In “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister”, Spencer claims he confronted the then-Prince Charles over plans for Prince William and Prince Harry, aged 15 and 12 respectively, to walk behind their mother’s coffin during her 1997 funeral procession.
Spencer says he told Charles that Diana would not have wanted her sons to endure the ordeal. He alleges that Charles reacted angrily during the confrontation and told him: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”
Spencer also accuses Charles of showing “contempt” for Diana and claims he sounded “elated” following her death.
The allegations have drawn a rare public response from Buckingham Palace.
Royal family responds to Spencer’s claims
Following the publication of excerpts from the book last week, Buckingham Palace issued a strongly worded statement.
“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,” the palace said.
Spencer has stood by his account, telling the BBC that he is telling the truth.
Responding to the royal statement, he questioned whether the King was “furious” or “embarrassed” by his claims.
Charles and Diana’s turbulent history
Charles, then 32, married 20-year-old Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral in 1981. The couple divorced in 1996, and Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles, now Queen Camilla, a decade later.
Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, has long spoken critically about the royal family’s treatment of his sister.
The tensions between the Spencer family and the royals following Diana’s death were later depicted in the film “The Queen” and the television series “The Crown”.
At Diana’s funeral, Spencer delivered a highly critical eulogy in which he pledged that her “blood family” would continue her legacy by raising her two sons. The speech was widely viewed at the time as a criticism of the royal family.
Diana’s death triggered an unprecedented public outpouring of grief in Britain and around the world. Questions were also raised about the royal family’s response to the public mood following her death.
Spencer draws parallels with Harry
In his new book, Spencer also criticises the royal family’s treatment of Harry, who was 12 when his mother died.
He describes his nephew as “tiny, and slight, and bereft” after the funeral and argues that Harry needed greater care and support following Diana’s death.
Spencer also draws parallels between the media treatment of Diana and the later coverage of Harry and his wife, Meghan.
Asked by the BBC whether he believed the situations were comparable, Spencer said Diana had been “really brought low” by the criticism and that he saw “echoes” of that treatment today.
Spencer said he decided to write the book to record his own memories and thoughts about Diana rather than continue reading accounts that he believes contain inaccuracies.
Penguin Press said the book will be published globally and translated into 12 languages.
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