Buckingham Palace Statement on Earl Spencer's Book Called a 'Misguided Mistake'

Buckingham Palace's response to allegations made in Earl Spencer's new book was a "terribly misguided mistake," according to Richard Eden, the Daily Mail's Diary Editor. Eden stated on the "Palace Confidential" program that the King should not have responded "so quickly" to the claims.

Earl Spencer's memoir, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," has reportedly sent shockwaves through the Royal Family. The book includes an assertion that King Charles, then Prince of Wales, said days after Princess Diana's death: "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough." In response, Buckingham Palace issued a statement suggesting that "grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory."

Eden expressed his belief that this statement was "unnecessary" and "terribly misguided," particularly contrasting it with the Royal Family's approach to Prince Harry's book. "The reason I'm angry about it is because the King never said anything when Harry's book came out," Eden said, referencing the criticisms made in "Spare" regarding Prince William and Catherine. He added that Charles's response to his brother-in-law's claims was "aggressive" in tone, unlike the more "emollient statement" issued by Queen Elizabeth II following the Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021.

Rebecca English, Royal Editor, commented that while she couldn't definitively say if the Palace's response was correct, it had "changed the way the book is being perceived." Ailsa Anderson, former Press Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, suggested that the Palace's swift reaction was due to the nature of Earl Spencer's claims, which concern the death of a woman and her ex-husband's reaction, as opposed to the contents of "Spare."

Earl Spencer, 62, stated that his book aims to correct "untruths" about his sister. The memoir also details an alleged disagreement with King Charles over the funeral arrangements for Diana, specifically regarding Prince William and Prince Harry walking in the procession. Earl Spencer reportedly advocated against the public ordeal for the then-teenage princes, while Charles is said to have questioned the Spencer family's sense of duty.

The book also touches upon Diana's marital struggles and Charles's relationship with Camilla. Earl Spencer recounts a conversation with Diana on her wedding day in 1981, where she confided that the then-Prince of Wales had told her he was not in love with her. A royal aide later described this account as "demonstrably untrue."

Additionally, the memoir reveals that Queen Elizabeth II offered to restore Diana's HRH title shortly after her funeral, an offer Earl Spencer declined. He reflects in the book on whether rejecting the title was the right decision, though he concluded that the consolation prize was "hollow" and the title should not have been removed during her lifetime.