Earl Spencer defends explosive Diana memoir claims about King Charles
Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, is defending claims made in his new memoir 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister' set to publish September 22, 2026. In a BBC interview, Spencer stood by controversial allegations that King Charles sounded 'giddily elated like a lottery winner' when called about Diana's death in August 1997, and claimed the then-Prince said 'We'll forget her soon enough' during an argument over the princes walking in her funeral. Spencer insisted he remained 'hyper-alert' to the words spoken, having had only two phone calls with Charles in his life. Buckingham Palace responded with a rare statement suggesting grief can cloud memory and judgment over time. The book also alleges Diana wanted to divorce Charles because she believed he was 'in love with his valet.' The dispute marks the latest in tensions between the Palace and Spencer, whose memoir will be widely translated.
Key facts
- Earl Spencer's memoir 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister' publishes September 22, 2026
- Spencer claims King Charles sounded 'giddily elated like a lottery winner' on the phone after Diana's death on August 31, 1997
- Spencer alleges Charles said 'We'll forget her soon enough' during a heated argument about the young princes in the funeral procession
- Buckingham Palace stated grief can 'cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory' regarding the allegations
- Spencer told BBC he had only two phone calls with Charles in his life and was 'hyper-alert' to his words
- The book is being translated into twelve languages and released ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana's death
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning outlets tend to highlight the credibility of Spencer's account and the significance of airing royal family dysfunction. They emphasize the Palace's weak response and Spencer's emotional honesty, positioning him as a truth-teller willing to challenge institutional power despite potential backlash.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning outlets tend to question Spencer's reliability and motives, echoing the Palace's suggestion that grief and time can distort memory. They frame the allegations as questionable claims from a sibling with financial incentive to sensationalize, and present the Palace's dignified restraint positively.
Limits of this briefing
The claims remain disputed with no independent verification possible after nearly 30 years. The Palace has declined to specifically deny the quoted words, instead offering a psychological explanation for alleged memory distortion. Media outlets covering the story often rely on the Daily Mail's exclusive excerpts rather than independent confirmation.
Sources
- Yahoo News / BBC: 'I'm telling the truth': Earl Spencer defends Diana book claims about Charles in BBC interview Centre
- Hello! Magazine: Charles Spencer breaks silence following backlash over claims in book: 'Those are exactly the words he said' Centre
- CNN: 5 explosive claims in new book by Princess Diana's brother Left
- CBS News: Princess Diana's brother claims Charles sounded 'like a lottery winner' after she died Centre
- The Nation (Pakistan): 'I'm telling the truth': Earl Spencer defends Diana book claims about Charles in interview Centre