A memoir's claim and a rare Palace response
A forthcoming memoir by Charles Spencer, the younger brother of the late Princess Diana, has drawn a rare public response from King Charles's office. The book, titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is set for release next week and includes an account of a phone call after Diana's death in a 1997 Paris car crash. Spencer writes that the then-Prince of Wales told him, "We'll forget her soon enough." The claim has sparked fierce reaction in the British press and among the public, with Charles facing criticism over the alleged remark about his ex-wife, who remains a beloved figure in the U.K.[S1]
According to the statement the Palace provided to BBC News, the quote is not explicitly rejected, but Spencer's recollection is called into question. The Palace explained that it generally stays silent on books, yet noted that His Majesty understands how the anguish of losing a sibling can distort thinking, sway judgment, and tint memories in ways that go unnoticed by others, even long after the loss. Commentators observed that this phrasing resembles Queen Elizabeth's 2021 remark that recollections may vary, made after racism claims by Harry and Meghan. The BBC says the Palace dismisses the claim as wholly unlike a man known for deep compassion, who was grieving both personally and for his two sons.[S1]
Funeral procession dispute and royal schedule
Another passage from the memoir has Spencer alleging that Charles erupted in fury when Spencer argued that Diana would not have wished for Prince William, then 15, and Prince Harry, then 12, to join her funeral procession. Spencer describes Charles venting by telephone what Spencer interpreted as long-suppressed resentment toward Diana, along with outrage that her death had captivated the world, before uttering the remark about forgetting her. The book, the article notes, has connected with wider public feeling that the royals resist showing compassion during difficult times, particularly around Diana's passing.[S1]
The open dispute between King Charles and Diana's brother could overshadow an important occasion for the monarchy. Charles, Prince William, and Kate Middleton are carrying out engagements, while Prince Harry is appearing prominently for the first time since coming back to Britain alongside Meghan Markle. Because of this overlap, the memoir's allegations and the Palace's reply will probably keep drawing attention while the royals go about their scheduled duties.[S1]
