Earl Spencer Recounts Prince Charles's 'Petulant Child' Outburst on Day of Father's Funeral
In his forthcoming memoir, Earl Spencer claims the then-Prince Charles expressed envy over his early inheritance of the Spencer estate, stamping his foot in frustration.
Earl Spencer claims that then-Prince Charles, now King Charles III, exhibited childlike behavior and expressed frustration over his own inheritance on the day of Earl Spencer's father's funeral in April 1992. According to excerpts from Spencer's memoir, Charles stamped his foot and called the Earl "lucky" to be inheriting the vast Spencer estate at a young age.
During the conversation, held in the oak-panelled tapestry sitting room at Althorp, the Spencer family's 13,000-acre estate in Northamptonshire, the then-Prince of Wales allegedly complained that he was being treated like a child by his parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, despite being 43 years old. Earl Spencer, who was 27 at the time and had just inherited the estate as the 9th Earl, recounted the exchange.
"At this he stamped his foot in emphasis," Earl Spencer writes in his memoir. "I have to say, very much like a child; and a petulant one, at that."
The Earl recalled that Prince Charles had said, "You're just so lucky – you know, inheriting when you're so young!" Spencer, unsure if he had heard correctly, asked for clarification. Prince Charles then elaborated, "You're inheriting this place in your twenties. And, I mean, I'm 43…and I employ 50 people… but my parents insist on treating me like – like a child!"
The interaction reportedly occurred after the funeral service for John Spencer, the 8th Earl Spencer, when the Earl, Prince Charles, and Princess Diana had gathered in the drawing-room.