Buckingham Palace Strongly Rejects Earl Spencer's Claims in Forthcoming Diana Memoir

Buckingham Palace has entered into a sharp war of words with Earl Spencer, the brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, following the disclosure of highly controversial claims contained in his forthcoming memoir. The dispute centres on accounts of private conversations that took place in the immediate aftermath of Diana’s death in 1997, reopening historical wounds for the royal household.

The central allegation, detailed in excerpts published by the Daily Mail, asserts that King Charles made an insensitive comment regarding his former wife shortly after her passing. According to the text, the King allegedly told Earl Spencer during an acrimonious exchange that "we'll forget her soon enough."

The book recounts that the confrontation arose during discussions over the arrangements for Diana's funeral cortege. Earl Spencer had insisted that Diana would not have wanted her young sons, Prince William and Prince Harry—who were aged 15 and 12 at the time—to walk behind her coffin in the public procession, a position that reportedly provoked a furious reaction from the then-Prince of Wales.

In the published excerpt, Earl Spencer claims that Charles subjected him to a "stream of anger" over the telephone. The Earl wrote that Charles "unleashed down the phone what I have always taken to be his pent-up contempt for Diana, and his horror that the world was so bowled over by her death," before hissing the remark assuring him that the public would soon move on.

Buckingham Palace issued an unusually firm and direct rebuttal, seeking to cast doubt on the veracity of the account. In a formal statement, the Palace said: "While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss."

The Palace has rejected the claims entirely, viewing the reported behavior as completely out of character for the King. Royal officials emphasize that Charles possesses a deeply compassionate nature and was himself coping with immense personal grief at the time while supporting his two young sons through their tragic bereavement.

The language used in the Palace's rebuttal bears striking similarities to Queen Elizabeth II's notable response to allegations of racism raised by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2021. At that time, the late Queen famously remarked that "recollections may vary," a phrasing that similarly suggested personal memories of contentious events might differ from objective facts.

The impending publication of Earl Spencer’s memoir, titled *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister*, is poised to revisit an exceptionally painful chapter in the Royal Family's modern history. Written from the intimate perspective of Diana’s own family, the book offers an insider look at the internal turmoil that unfolded behind palace walls.

Diana's sudden death in 1997 had generated a volatile public climate across the United Kingdom, during which the monarchy faced severe criticism for appearing detached, unempathetic, and out of touch with the collective public mood. Earl Spencer’s emotional and defiant address at her funeral service added significantly to the cloud of grievance that lingered over her passing.

This fresh public dispute threatens to overshadow a particularly crowded schedule of official duties for senior members of the royal family, with the King, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Prince Harry all making major public appearances.

King Charles is scheduled to intervene in the global debate surrounding artificial intelligence by hosting an event at Dumfries House in Ayrshire. The King will call upon leading figures within the technology sector to prevent AI from evolving into a destructive force, asking how its vast potential can be harnessed safely alongside international cooperation.

Addressing industry executives from firms including OpenAI, Anthropic, Nvidia, and Google DeepMind, alongside AI minister Kanishka Narayan, the King is expected to say: "Those in our world who value our humanity and its vital moral component are anxiously seeking your reassurance that we will not lose control of our destiny." He will describe the rapid development and pace of AI as "both intriguing and deeply concerning in equal measure," noting public anxieties regarding technological safety and employment risks.

The King will also emphasize the enduring responsibility resting on current innovators, declaring: "The decisions taken at this formative time will shape the world inherited by future generations. And so, the task before you is not merely to advance technology, but to ensure that it remains firmly in the service of humanity, community and the natural world."

Meanwhile, Prince William and Catherine are visiting the Isle of Bute in Scotland, where they are known by the titles of the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay. Marking their first official visit to the town of Rothesay, the couple's itinerary includes touring community and volunteering initiatives, observing the traditional sport of shinty, visiting a community-owned pub, and meeting local environmental conservationists.

At the same time, Prince Harry is undertaking his first major public appearance since returning to the UK by attending the inaugural Invictus awards ceremony. The event is dedicated to celebrating the resilience, service, and unconquered spirit of injured service personnel participating in adaptive sports programs.