Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, has claimed in his new book that then-Prince Charles seemed “elated” after hearing of his ex-wife’s death.

Earl Spencer made the assertion in an excerpt of his book, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” published by the Daily Mail. Spencer wrote that upon learning Diana had died in a high-speed car crash in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997, the phone calls he received were filled with shock and offers of condolences. He claimed that Prince Charles, however, sounded “giddily elated — like a lottery winner.”

Spencer recounted that the then-Prince Charles informed him that he had told Princes William and Harry of their mother’s death early that morning in their bedrooms at Balmoral. Spencer described the delivery as “strangely matter-of-fact, given the enormity of the disaster.”

Reflecting on the moment, Spencer wrote that he suspects Charles's primary thought was “how this event might free him to marry the woman he loved,” rather than acknowledging the loss of his ex-wife. He suggested that it can be difficult to sympathize with an ex-spouse or those who cared for them deeply, especially after a contentious divorce.

Spencer also claimed that others within the Palace were relieved or even pleased by Diana's death.

In a separate excerpt published earlier, Spencer alleged that during a phone conversation with the then-Prince Charles about funeral arrangements, Charles expressed contempt for Diana and dismay at the public's reaction to her death. Spencer claimed Charles said, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!”

Buckingham Palace responded to the earlier claim with a rare statement, noting that “while we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss.”

When asked to comment on Spencer's latest excerpt, a spokesperson stated, “We have nothing further to add to our statement from yesterday.”

Spencer has described “Swan Song,” slated for release on September 22, as “a brother’s simple tribute to an extraordinary sister.”