King Charles denies Earl Spencer’s claim he said “we’ll forget her soon enough” after Diana’s death
Charles Spencer’s memoir “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” alleges King Charles III said “we’ll forget her soon enough” shortly before Princess Diana’s 1997 funeral and sounded “giddily elated” the night she died. Buckingham Palace issued a rare fiery response, stating grief can cloud memory and judgment. The dispute also involves Spencer’s claim that Diana believed Charles was in love with a staff member.
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Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- Both sides agree that the palace's decision to break its 'never complain, never explain' rule is unusual and worth noting.
- Both acknowledge that the exact words of the 1997 phone call cannot be independently verified.
- Both recognize that Earl Spencer and the palace have their own incentives—Spencer to sell a memoir, the palace to protect Charles's image.
Points of contention
- Western Agent argues the palace's response proves Spencer's account is credible, while Neutral Agent says it's just damage control, not a confession.
- Western Agent believes trauma can sharpen memory, especially for key details, but Neutral Agent cites research that trauma distorts specific facts like exact wording.
- Western Agent sees the 'why now' question as a tired gotcha, while Neutral Agent views it as a legitimate concern about Spencer's silence for 28 years.
- Western Agent trusts Spencer's account because he's family and was there, but Neutral Agent says being close to the situation doesn't make memory more reliable.
Blind spots
- Neither side fully explores why Diana's sisters or other family members haven't corroborated Spencer's account.
- Both overlook the possibility that the palace's response might target other damaging claims in the book, not just this specific quote.
- The debate doesn't consider how the 30th anniversary of Diana's death might influence the timing and public reception of Spencer's book.
WorldAttention’s read
This debate shows we're stuck between two imperfect sources: Earl Spencer's memory of a traumatic phone call and the palace's carefully managed response. Neither can be proven right or wrong. The palace's unusual reaction raises eyebrows, but it doesn't confirm Spencer's story. Spencer's account fits a pattern of royal coldness, but his 28-year silence and financial stake in the book make it hard to take as pure truth. In the end, we have to accept that the full story is lost to time, and the smartest move is to stay skeptical of both sides without picking a team.
Reporting timeline
Princess Diana's Brother Breaks Royal Silence with Memoir Alleging King Charles Said 'People Will Soon Forget Her'
Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer and brother of Princess Diana, is set to publish a memoir titled 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister' on September 22, sparking controversy. In excerpts published by the Daily Mail, Spencer claims that after Diana's death in 1997, he had a heated argument with then-Prince Charles (now King Charles III) over whether Princes William and Harry should walk behind their mother's coffin. Spencer alleges Charles said on the phone, 'Don't worry, people will soon forget her.' Buckingham Palace issued a rare statement questioning the memoir's reliability, stating that grief over losing a sibling may cloud reason and affect judgment. The palace typically does not respond to such books, as seen with Prince Harry's 'Spare' in 2023. Spencer says he wrote the book to tell 'the truth about Diana' from a brother's perspective ahead of the 30th anniversary of her death. The allegations remain unverified, with no recordings or third-party testimony available.
Read sourcePrincess Diana Believed King Charles Was in Love With a Staff Member, Brother Claims
A Google News aggregation page reports that Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, has made new claims in a book about her marriage to King Charles III. According to the summarized articles, Spencer alleges that Diana believed King Charles was 'in love' with a member of his staff, specifically his valet. The reports also state that Spencer claims King Charles sounded 'giddily elated' or like a 'lottery winner' on the night of Diana's death. These claims are sourced from multiple news outlets including InStyle, CNN, People.com, Yahoo, and Reuters, all covering the release of Spencer's book. The story centers on Spencer's personal recollections and interpretations of Diana's private statements and the King's demeanor during a tragic period.
Read sourcePrincess Diana's brother claims King Charles said 'we'll forget her soon enough' before funeral
Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, has made new claims about King Charles III in a forthcoming book. According to reports from multiple news outlets including CBS News, BBC, and NBC News, Spencer alleges that King Charles told him 'we'll forget her soon enough' shortly before Diana's funeral in 1997. Spencer also claims that Charles 'sounded giddily elated' on the night Diana died. Buckingham Palace has issued a rare and fiery response, denying the allegations and defending the King's character. The palace's statement breaks its traditional 'never complain, never explain' policy, indicating the seriousness with which it views the claims. The controversy has reignited public discussion about the royal family's conduct following Diana's death.
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Buckingham Palace disputes Earl Spencer's claims about Princess Diana in new book
Buckingham Palace has publicly refuted claims made by Charles Spencer, the Earl Spencer and brother of the late Princess Diana, in a new book. The palace issued a statement denying specific allegations about the royal family's treatment of Diana. Multiple news outlets, including the BBC, NBC News, The Guardian, and AP News, report that King Charles has issued a 'fiery response' to the claims. The Guardian notes that the royal statement offers a rare glimpse behind palace doors. Yahoo reports that Prince Harry encouraged his uncle to write the tell-all book, having 'destroyed the rules' of royal protocol. The dispute centers on the Earl's portrayal of Diana's life and her relationship with the royal family, leading to a public 'war of words' between the palace and the Spencer family.
Read sourceKing Charles issues fiery response to Princess Diana's brother over claims in new book
King Charles has issued a rare and fiery response to Charles Spencer, the brother of Princess Diana, over claims made in a new book. The dispute centers on allegations regarding Princess Diana's death, with Buckingham Palace hitting back at the claims. Multiple news outlets, including NBC News, BBC, AP News, People.com, and DW, report that the palace is engaged in a war of words with Earl Spencer. The rare response from the King marks a significant public clash between the royal family and Diana's brother, reigniting a long-standing controversy over the circumstances of Diana's death.
Read sourcePrincess Diana's brother accuses King Charles in new book; palace responds
A new autobiography by Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, titled 'Swan Song. Diana, My Sister,' has leveled serious accusations against King Charles III. According to media reports, the book claims that shortly after Diana's death in 1997, the then-heir to the throne made highly disparaging remarks about her, allegedly saying 'We will forget her soon enough.' The specific focus of the passage involves a dispute over whether Diana's sons, William and Harry, should walk in the funeral procession. Spencer claims Charles was 'beside himself' during a phone call, unleashing 'pent-up contempt for Diana.' The palace responded with an unusually strong statement, saying that while it does not comment on books as a matter of principle, 'His Majesty is aware that the pain of sibling grief can cloud the mind, impair judgment, and color memories.' The story has caused enormous excitement in the United Kingdom, where Diana remains a beloved figure known as the 'Queen of Hearts.'
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