Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, has shared his reasoning for not informing his family members about his new book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," until the day of its public announcement. He stated that he wanted the narrative to be his own responsibility and to avoid familial input on the content.
"I took a conscious decision that this was very much my story, my responsibility," Spencer said during a conversation with Tina Brown in New York. He elaborated that informing his sisters or nephews beforehand might have led to them offering opinions on what should or should not be included in the book. He also did not want them to feel obligated to disclose his writing process.
Spencer mentioned that his family received little warning about the book's existence, catching them by surprise. He presented them with two options: either they could be surprised by the announcement and potentially offer contributions or edits, or he would proceed with his original plan.
When asked about the reaction of his nephews, Prince William and Prince Harry, Spencer declined to share specific details out of respect for their privacy. He indicated that they are likely accustomed to his independent approach and that he assured them the book would not compromise their privacy.
The book also touches upon a reported exchange between Spencer and King Charles following Diana's death. Spencer alleged that Charles told him, “We’ll forget her soon enough.” Buckingham Palace responded to this claim with a statement acknowledging that grief can affect judgment and memory, without directly commenting on the book itself.