Earl Spencer has expressed his deep disappointment with Buckingham Palace's response to his claims about King Charles, describing it as "condescending" and "not straight." The allegations, detailed in his memoir "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," center on an alleged comment made by Charles shortly after Princess Diana's death.
Spencer recounted an incident where he claims King Charles said, "we'll forget her soon enough." The palace, in response to the memoir's claims, issued a statement noting that "the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss." This statement prompted Spencer to accuse the King of "gaslighting" him.
During an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America," Spencer stated, "Well, it's not every day you're gaslit by a king, but I was really upset with that because I thought it was very, not only condescending, but not straight." He emphasized the truthfulness of his account, adding, "What I said is straight and true. And what did they come back with? That. It doesn't say he didn't say it either. That's what I found interesting."
Spencer also drew a parallel between the palace's response and the late Queen Elizabeth II's "recollections may vary" comment, which addressed allegations made by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in their 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview. "I also thought it was a rather poor imitation of the 'recollections may vary' quote, which was a much more elegant way of putting things, but in these circumstances entirely out of place," Spencer remarked.
The memoir details a contentious conversation with Charles following Diana's fatal car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997. Spencer described Charles's demeanor on the phone after the news of Diana's death as "strangely matter-of-fact" and, in retrospect, believed the then-Prince may have been more focused on his personal life than the loss.
Spencer also alleged that Charles "went ballistic" when Spencer objected to Prince William and Prince Harry walking behind their mother's funeral cortege. Charles reportedly cited his own experience walking in his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten's funeral procession, a comparison Spencer found disingenuous given their differing ages at the time.
In addition to the claims about King Charles, Spencer revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not mention their potential move back to the UK when they stayed with him over the summer. He also confirmed that neither Prince Harry nor Prince William had read his book, as he wished to bear the sole responsibility for his written words. Both princes, he stated, are learning about the book's contents through public excerpts.
Spencer's memoir, "Swan Song," explores his sister's life and his own experiences, offering a personal perspective on royal events and relationships. The book's serialisation by the Daily Mail has brought renewed attention to these sensitive recollections.