Four advance copies of the Dutch-language edition of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister were stolen from a truck in the Netherlands while being moved from a printer to a warehouse. Dutch police are investigating, but the precise location of the theft has not been disclosed.
The book, due for global release on Tuesday, recounts Princess Diana's life from Earl Spencer's perspective. The incident highlights ongoing risks of pre-release leaks for high-profile memoirs.
Four advance copies of Earl Spencer's unreleased book about his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales, were stolen from a truck in the Netherlands while being transported from the printer to a publisher's warehouse.
The BBC understands four copies of the Dutch-language edition of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister were removed from a lorry while it was en route from the Dutch publisher's contracted printer to the publisher's warehouse. A source told the BBC the driver had stopped for a mandatory rest break and was sleeping in his cab when the books were taken.
Dutch police confirmed they are aware of the incident and have been approached for comment. Authorities are investigating, but the exact location of the theft has not been disclosed. The Daily Mail, which first reported the theft and is serialising the book, said the incident occurred earlier this week in the Dutch countryside.
Penguin Michael Joseph, the UK imprint of Penguin Random House that publishes the book in the UK, and Dutch publisher Overamstel, which holds the Netherlands rights, were contacted for comment. The theft raises concerns for publishers about pre-release leaks and security for advance copies.
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is due for release in the UK and internationally on Tuesday and recounts Princess Diana's life from Earl Spencer's perspective. When announcing the book, Earl Spencer said he wished "to tell the truth about Diana" from his own viewpoint and to record his memories ahead of the 30th anniversary of her death.
"The aim of this book is to tell the truth about Diana from her brother's perspective, just as I attempted to do when speaking at her funeral," Earl Spencer said.
In his 1997 Westminster Abbey eulogy, Earl Spencer described Diana as the "very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty" and criticised sections of the media for their treatment of her, calling her the "most hunted person of the modern age." Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 at age 36; she would have turned 65 on 1 July this year.
Pre-release leaks are not unprecedented: in 2023 copies of Prince Harry's memoir Spare were accidentally placed on sale in Spain days before its global release. Publishers typically take strict measures to secure advance copies, but thefts or accidental sales can still occur.
Publishers have not yet released a public statement with further details; the investigation by Dutch police continues.
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