Buckingham Palace Addresses Earl Spencer’s Claims Over King Charles’s Remarks Following Princess Diana’s Death

Buckingham Palace has issued a formal response following allegations made by Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, regarding remarks purportedly made by King Charles in the immediate aftermath of her death. The claims, which have emerged from an upcoming memoir, recount a contentious exchange that allegedly took place in the days leading up to Diana’s 1997 funeral.

According to Earl Spencer, the monarch—who was the Prince of Wales at the time—allegedly stated that the public would soon forget Diana. The assertion surfaced through an extract of Earl Spencer's forthcoming book, which was obtained and published by the Daily Mail, sparking renewed public discussion surrounding one of the most fraught periods in modern royal history.

In an official statement addressing the matter, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson indicated that the institution generally refrains from commenting on literary publications. However, the spokesperson noted that the King acknowledges how the deep pain associated with fraternal bereavement can cloud rational thought, distort judgment, and alter memories in ways that others might not recognise, even decades after such a tragic loss.

The allegations are set to appear in full within Earl Spencer’s memoir, titled *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister*, which is scheduled for official publication next week. The memoir is widely anticipated to offer an intensely critical perspective on the Royal Family’s actions, though news organisations, including the BBC, have not yet had the opportunity to review the complete manuscript.

The disputed incident centres on intense disagreements regarding the funeral arrangements for Princess Diana, specifically whether her two young sons should participate in the public cortège. Earl Spencer claims he received a phone call from Charles after expressing strong objections to Prince William, who was 15 at the time, and Prince Harry, then aged 12, walking directly behind their mother’s coffin.

In his written account, Earl Spencer alleged that Charles subjected him to a sharp outpouring of anger during the telephone discussion. He claimed that the then-heir to the throne was releasing long-standing resentment toward Diana and reacting with disbelief at the extraordinary scale of global mourning that followed her sudden passing.

According to the excerpt, Earl Spencer asserted that Charles concluded the tense exchange by hissing down the telephone line that they would forget Diana soon enough. The author maintained that he had initially voiced his opposition after being informed by a senior royal aide that the young princes were scheduled to join the solemn walking procession.

The sudden death of Princess Diana in a Paris car crash in 1997 precipitated an unprecedented crisis for the British monarchy. Her immense global popularity combined with the abruptness of the tragedy created an emotionally charged and volatile environment across the United Kingdom and internationally.

During those days of national mourning, the Royal Family faced widespread public criticism and intense scrutiny. Observers and the public accused the monarchy of demonstrating an apparent lack of emotional warmth, failing to adequately convey empathy, and appearing disconnected from the prevailing public sentiment.

Tensions were further heightened during Diana’s funeral service at Westminster Abbey, where Earl Spencer delivered a passionately defiant eulogy. His address famously cast a lingering shadow over the royal establishment and reinforced the profound sense of grievance felt by many of Diana’s closest supporters.

The decision to have Diana's young children walk in the public procession has remained a deeply sensitive topic over the ensuing decades. Prince Harry has previously spoken publicly about the ordeal, remarking in earlier interviews that no child of 12 should ever have been asked to undertake such a harrowing walk in front of millions of onlookers.

Despite those earlier comments, Prince Harry also offered a more nuanced reflection during a 2017 interview with the BBC. At that time, he stated that while he held no definitive view on whether the decision was ultimately right or wrong, he felt glad in hindsight to have been an active participant in his mother's final journey.

The release of Earl Spencer’s new book threatens to revisit these sensitive historical divisions and reopen difficult conversations regarding the Royal Family's conduct during one of its most turbulent eras. Observers anticipate that the memoir’s detailed personal reflections will provide further insight into the Spencer family’s enduring perspective on the tragedy.

The publication of the memoir has also been accompanied by unexpected real-world disruption prior to its official launch. Reports confirmed that advance copies of the book were stolen during a logistics operation in mainland Europe just days before the scheduled release date.

According to details confirmed regarding the incident, four copies of the Dutch-language edition of the memoir were stolen from a transport vehicle in the Netherlands. The theft occurred while the shipment was being transferred directly from the printing facility to the Dutch publisher’s distribution warehouse.

As the official release date approaches, the revelations and the Palace's measured rebuttal illustrate the enduring complexity and emotional weight that continue to surround Princess Diana’s legacy, demonstrating that memories of the events of 1997 remain deeply personal and persistently contested.