Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, has reignited one of the royal family's most painful controversies with claims in his new memoir about King Charles's reaction to Diana's death.
In 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,' Spencer alleges that during a heated conversation following Diana's death in 1997, Charles said: 'We'll forget her soon enough.' Buckingham Palace responded that grief can affect a person's reason, judgment and memory, offering a different perspective on Spencer's recollection.
The allegation has emerged at a sensitive moment for the monarchy. According to a source cited by RadarOnline, Prince William is bothered by Harry's growing alliance with Spencer. 'William believes the relationship risks turning longstanding family disagreements into another public confrontation, particularly when the monarchy is already facing considerable scrutiny,' the source said.
Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, has long been an outspoken guardian of his sister's memory. His eulogy at Diana's funeral in 1997, in which he pledged that the Spencer family would protect her sons, was one of the defining moments of that week of national mourning. In the decades since, his relationship with the royal family has been strained, and his memoir is expected to be one of the most closely scrutinised royal books in years.
The timing of the book's revelations coincides with a period of intense pressure on the royal family. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over Epstein files, Prince Harry was recently booed at a rugby match, and the Sussexes' return to the UK has kept royal divisions in the headlines.
Buckingham Palace's response — attributing any such remark to the effects of grief on reason, judgment and memory — stops short of a direct denial while casting doubt on the reliability of a decades-old recollection made in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic death.
Royal commentators are divided on the memoir's impact. Supporters of Spencer argue that Diana's brother has every right to tell his sister's story and that the royal family's treatment of Diana remains a legitimate subject of public interest. Critics counter that raking over a private conversation from 1997 serves little purpose beyond selling books and deepening existing family rifts.
The book arrives as King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William prepare for a rare joint appearance at Aberfan on October 21 to mark the 60th anniversary of the 1966 mining disaster — an engagement some observers interpret as a show of unity amid the ongoing turmoil.