A public dispute has erupted between King Charles III and his late sister-in-law Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, over an alleged remark made by the King shortly after Diana's death in 1997. Earl Spencer claims in his forthcoming memoir, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," that King Charles told him, "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough." Buckingham Palace has issued an uncharacteristic statement denying the allegation and suggesting that grief can "cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory."
Prince Harry was reportedly aware of his uncle's book and discussed it with Earl Spencer during a visit to Althorp in July with his wife, Meghan. However, a source close to Harry indicated he had not yet read the memoir.
Palace Responds to Allegations
Buckingham Palace's response, described by experts as "extraordinary" and "beyond punchy," stated that "His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss." This has been compared to Queen Elizabeth II's remark that "recollections may vary" in response to Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Sources close to the King have insisted that the alleged comment is "just not in his nature" and that he was "grief-stricken" at the time. They pointed to his decision to overrule royal protocol to ensure Diana received a full state-style ceremonial funeral.
Former royal correspondents and commentators have weighed in on the dispute. Peter Hunt noted that the King, who was scheduled to meet with AI developers in Scotland on the day of the report, appeared "absolutely incandescent" over the allegations. Jennie Bond described the situation as "pure war" between Diana's brother and the King, expressing concern for the impact on William and Harry.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, suggested that Diana would have been "horrified" to learn of the alleged remark being made public, especially as she believed she and Charles "really loved each other" and wanted their children to know it.
Earl Spencer's Account
Earl Spencer, who has written his memoir to correct what he perceives as "untruths" about his sister, details the alleged exchange in his book. He recounts clashing with Charles over the idea of Princes William and Harry walking in their mother's funeral procession. According to Spencer, Charles expressed frustration, prompting Spencer to point out the age difference between himself and Charles when Charles walked in Lord Mountbatten's funeral procession. It was then, Spencer claims, that Charles made the alleged remark about Diana being "forgotten."
Julian Payne, who served as the King's communications secretary, stated that he "personally was working for him during the 20th anniversary of the late princess's death in 2017" and recalled discussions about Diana where the King was "emphatic that we were to respect her memory and not undermine it in any way." Payne found the alleged remark "very odd" and "not language that I recognise."
The book is set to be published worldwide next Tuesday. Separately, police in the Netherlands are investigating the theft of four copies of the book from a parked lorry.
Several members of the Royal Family are scheduled to carry out official engagements on the day of the report. King Charles is to address a summit on artificial intelligence in Scotland. The Prince and Princess of Wales are to visit the Isle of Bute. Prince Harry is expected to attend the Invictus Spirit Awards ceremony in London, marking his first public appearance since returning to the UK. Princess Anne will attend the opening of a new History Centre in Staffordshire.