Earl Spencer has described his forthcoming book about Princess Diana and the events following her death as his "most personal work by some distance" and a "brother's tribute to an extraordinary sister."
The memoir, titled "Swan Song," is slated for publication on September 22 and is expected to offer an intimate account of Diana's life and the intense period after her fatal car crash in Paris in August 1997.
Spencer, 62, shared photos of himself holding an advance copy of the book on X (formerly Twitter), noting that receiving the printed version is always a significant moment for an author. "Swan Song" will be released globally and translated into 12 languages, aiming to provide an inside perspective on a week that deeply affected the British monarchy and captivated the world.
The book is anticipated to cover Diana's childhood, her 15-year marriage to the then-Prince of Wales, and the public outpouring of grief and anger that followed her death. Spencer has stated that the book aims to present the truth about Diana from his brother's viewpoint, a commitment he also expressed in his eulogy at her funeral. He hopes the memoir will resonate with those who remember Diana and introduce her complex character to younger generations.
During Diana's funeral in 1997, Earl Spencer delivered a eulogy that emphasized his sister's unique impact, stating she "needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic." He also pledged that Diana's "blood family" would protect Princes William and Harry, ensuring their "souls are not simply immersed by duty and tradition, but can sing openly as you planned."
Spencer has previously spoken about the enduring impact of his sister's death, noting his annual "fundamentally unhappy" feelings around the anniversary and the difficulty of hearing others' recollections of that day. He described Diana's legacy as multifaceted, resonating differently with individuals, particularly women who identified with her struggles.
"Swan Song" is published by Penguin Michael Joseph. The book's cover features a black-and-white photograph of Diana. Publisher Daniel Bunyard called the work "a book of historic importance" and "extraordinarily moving, beautifully written and remarkably candid."
Spencer and Diana grew up together in Norfolk. Their father, Viscount Spencer, served as an equerry to Queen Elizabeth II and King George VI. Diana was the Spencers' third daughter, and her younger brother Charles's birth three years later was met with a fireworks display.
Earl Spencer has also been vocal about his experiences, including allegations of abuse at his boarding school, detailed in his 2024 memoir "A Very Private School." He also revealed in 2020 how journalist Martin Bashir used deceitful tactics to secure Diana's 1995 BBC "Panorama" interview.
Reports indicate that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their children Archie and Lilibet, visited the Spencer family's Althorp estate last month, where Diana is buried on an island in the Oval Lake.