A new memoir by Earl Spencer, the brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, has generated controversy ahead of its publication after he alleged that King Charles III, then Prince Charles, reacted unexpectedly during a phone call following Diana’s death in 1997.
In excerpts published ahead of the release of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, Earl Spencer recounts the hours after learning of his sister’s death in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997. He writes that during subsequent conversations, the then-Prince Charles telephoned him and, in his recollection, appeared noticeably different from other callers who were expressing shock and grief.
According to the memoir, Spencer interpreted Charles’s tone during the conversation in a highly critical way, claiming he seemed unusually upbeat compared to others who had contacted him following the tragedy. The account is based on Spencer’s personal recollections of events that occurred nearly three decades ago.
Buckingham Palace has strongly challenged the credibility of the claims. In a statement, a palace spokesperson said that while the royal household does not generally comment on books, grief and family loss can affect how events are remembered and interpreted over time.
The palace’s response came after earlier reports from the book alleged that Charles had made remarks suggesting Diana would soon be forgotten, an account that Buckingham Palace also rejected.
The publication has reopened debate about one of the most scrutinized periods in modern royal history. Diana and Charles divorced in August 1996, one year before her death, following years of public attention surrounding their relationship.
The memoir also revisits the immediate aftermath of the Paris crash, including Earl Spencer’s recollections of receiving a phone call from his sister Jane while he was in South Africa and the series of conversations that followed as details of the tragedy became known.
Representatives for Prince Harry have declined to comment on the book, while Buckingham Palace has referred observers to its previous statements rejecting the claims.
The release of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is expected to generate significant public interest as readers examine a deeply personal account from Diana’s brother. The allegations, however, remain disputed, with differing interpretations of events continuing to emerge nearly 30 years after the princess’s death.
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