Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, has publicly aligned herself with King Charles III in the dispute with Earl Charles Spencer regarding claims made in his memoir about Princess Diana. Buckingham Palace had previously issued an unusual statement questioning the veracity of Earl Spencer's account, suggesting that grief can 'cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory'.
Badenoch, speaking in an interview with BBC Newsnight, affirmed her support for the King. "I have a side and it's always on the side of His Majesty," she stated. She reiterated the sentiment of the Palace's response, adding, "I would reiterate exactly what it was that the King himself had said or certainly Buckingham Palace said on his behalf."
Earl Spencer's memoir, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," serialised by the Daily Mail, includes an allegation that King Charles III told him in the days following Diana's death that they would "forget her soon enough." This alleged comment, made during a phone call, has reportedly angered royal aides who deem it contrary to the King's character.
The Palace's statement, in response to Spencer's claims, noted that "His Majesty is mindful 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 response has drawn comparisons to the late Queen Elizabeth II's comment regarding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's accusations, where she stated that "recollections may vary."
The dispute reportedly stems from an argument between Charles and Earl Spencer concerning Prince William and Prince Harry's participation in their mother's funeral procession. The Earl insisted Diana would not have wanted her sons to endure such a public ordeal, while Charles is said to have pointed to his own experience walking behind Lord Mountbatten's coffin. Earl Spencer alleges Charles then questioned the Spencer family's sense of duty and made the remark about Diana being forgotten.
In addition to the alleged comment to Earl Spencer, the memoir also claims Queen Elizabeth II offered to reinstate Princess Diana's HRH title after her death. This offer was reportedly conveyed to Earl Spencer by Robert Fellowes, the Queen's Private Secretary and Spencer's brother-in-law. However, the Earl declined the offer, believing Diana would not have valued the gesture posthumously.
Earl Spencer's book also details Diana's difficult marriage to Charles and the aftermath of her death in a Paris car crash in 1997. The publication of these accounts comes nearly 30 years after Diana's death and is expected to generate further attention for the royal family.