Charles Spencer accuses King Charles III of being "giddily elated" on the night Princess Diana died and of telling him days later, "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough," in extracts from his memoir now being serialised in the Daily Mail. Buckingham Palace issued a rare, firm rebuttal, saying grief can affect memory and noting it does not usually comment on books. The allegations have prompted reactions from former palace staff and royal commentators and renewed public interest in Diana's life and legacy.
Diana’s Brother Accuses King Charles Of Being “Giddily Elated” After Her Death — Palace Issues Rare Rebuke
Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris aged 36 (MARK CARDWELL)
Charles Spencer has levelled dramatic accusations against King Charles III in extracts from his forthcoming memoir, alleging the then-prince was "giddily elated" on the night Princess Diana died and quoting him as saying days later, "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough." The book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is being serialised in the Daily Mail ahead of its publication next week.
"He sounded giddily elated — like a lottery winner," Spencer writes of the night Diana died. In another passage he recounts a heated phone exchange in which he says the prince hissed, "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough!"
Buckingham Palace responded swiftly and unusually forcefully. A spokesperson said: "His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss." The statement added that the palace does not normally comment on books.
Spencer also asserts that he knew of "others in the Palace... who were relieved — indeed, pleased — that she had gone," and recounts a torrent of anger from Charles after Spencer argued that Diana would not have wanted her sons, then aged 15 and 12, to march in the funeral procession behind her coffin.
Diana died in Paris in 1997, aged 36, when the car she was travelling in crashed while the driver tried to evade paparazzi. Her death prompted a vast public outpouring of grief in Britain and sparked criticism that the monarchy's initial response lacked sufficient empathy.
Responses And Context
Julian Payne, who was communications secretary to Charles during the 20th anniversary of Diana's death, told the BBC he found Spencer's alleged wording hard to recognise. Royal commentators said the palace's rapid rebuttal signalled the seriousness with which the institution viewed the allegation, particularly because further extracts are due to appear in the serialisation.
Observers drew parallels between the palace's language and the late Queen Elizabeth II's 2021 response to allegations from Prince Harry and Meghan, when the queen noted that "some recollections may vary." Spencer's memoir revisits the couple's troubled marriage and the enduring public fascination with Diana's legacy.
As an associated item of interest, Diana's famed "revenge dress" — worn in 1994 after Charles publicly admitted adultery — is scheduled to be auctioned in New York this December.
Publication note: Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is due for release next week and is being serialised in the Daily Mail.
Help us improve.
