Earl Spencer’s Diana Book Sparks Palace Row as Credibility Falters

Earl Spencer’s memoir ‘Swan Song: Diana, My Sister’ has triggered a public dispute with Buckingham Palace over allegations about King Charles’ conduct after Princess Diana’s death in 1997. The book claims the King said people would ‘forget her soon enough’ and sounded ‘giddily elated’ after her death. Buckingham Palace rejected these claims, and the memoir’s credibility has already suffered after Spencer admitted a factual error linking broadcaster Piers Morgan to controversial photographs from 1993.

What Spencer claims in the memoir

In ‘Swan Song: Diana, My Sister’, Earl Spencer alleges that during a telephone call before Diana’s funeral, King Charles said ‘Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.’ Spencer also claims the King sounded ‘giddily elated’ the morning Diana died in a Paris car crash on 31 August 1997. Spencer later conceded he could not be certain of the King’s thoughts during that call. The book also contains allegations that Diana told Spencer the King was ‘in love with his valet’.

Palace response and the gaslighting accusation

Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying the ‘pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise.’ Spencer called this response ‘very aggressive’ and accused the Palace of ‘gaslighting’ during a New York book event on Tuesday. He said the King had not directly denied his account of the telephone call. Spencer told former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown that the book was ‘a brother’s loving tribute’ and felt frustrated by the Palace’s characterisation of his recollections.

Credibility damaged by factual errors

Spencer apologised to Piers Morgan over an inaccuracy in the memoir. Spencer incorrectly claimed Morgan was editor of the Daily Mirror when controversial gym photographs of Diana were published in November 1993. Morgan did not join the Daily Mirror until October 1995 and was working for The Sun at the time. Morgan has launched legal action over the error. Royal courtiers and allies of the King who were present at the time have publicly stated Charles was ‘distraught with grief’, contradicting Spencer’s allegations.

Wider family tensions over Diana’s legacy

Prince William has remained silent about the book and its claims. Spencer said both William and Harry are ‘okay’ with its publication and that he did not seek their approval beforehand. Prince Harry is reportedly exploring plans for a new Princess Diana documentary, which William reportedly rejected, expressing concern about the independent commercial project. The book publication loomed over the royal family and threatened to destabilise the monarchy just months after it had recovered from the fallout over Prince Andrew’s arrest following his past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Final Thoughts

Spencer’s memoir has backfired. Factual errors, legal action from Morgan, and contradictions from royal witnesses have undermined his credibility. The Palace’s measured response and public support from those present at the time suggest the dispute has tilted against Spencer rather than damaging the King.

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