Earl Spencer Accused of 'Picking at Scars' Amid Memoir Controversy

Buckingham Palace aides have accused Earl Spencer of "picking at the scars of the past" with his memoir about his late sister, Princess Diana, and suggested his controversial claims are fueled by an inability to accept the popularity of King Charles and Queen Camilla. The allegations come after a series of striking extracts from Spencer's book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," were published.

One of the most contentious claims in the memoir is that then-Prince Charles told Diana's grieving brother days after her 1997 death that "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough." This assertion prompted an unusual rebuttal from the Palace, with a spokesperson questioning the accuracy of Spencer's account and stating that "fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory."

Friends of King Charles have since pushed back against the earl's "unkind claims," with one aide telling The Sunday Times that Spencer appears to be driven by a resentment of the King and Queen's public approval. "If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say it's more that... the King and Queen have proved rather adept and popular in their new roles," the aide suggested.

Earl Spencer, however, has denied that financial gain is his motivation for writing the book, stating that his late sister would be "cheering from the rafters" if she were alive. He told The Mail on Sunday that his primary responsibility as a historian is to "tell the truth about Diana." He also described the Palace's response as "gaslighting" and a "poor imitation" of Queen Elizabeth II's famous "recollections may vary" comment regarding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

"It is not every day you wake up to find you've been gaslit by the King," Spencer said in an interview. "It was astonishingly provocative and below the belt because it was essentially trying to say I'd lied without the King being able to deny what I'd said."

Spencer maintains he informed close friends and family immediately after the alleged comment from Prince Charles, deeming it "so monstrous." The alleged remark was reportedly made during a heated discussion about whether Princes William and Harry should participate in their mother's funeral procession.

Former Tory MP Rory Stewart, who tutored both princes, expressed disbelief at Spencer's account, telling the BBC that it is "just not his character, it's not his personality. Never ever have I heard him say anything like that."

The Palace has declined to comment on further claims within the memoir, which is expected to become a bestseller upon its release.