King Charles denies Earl Spencer’s claims he said “we’ll forget her soon enough” after Diana’s death
Charles Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother, alleges in his forthcoming memoir “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” that King Charles III said “we’ll forget her soon enough” and sounded “giddily elated” after Diana’s 1997 death. Buckingham Palace issued a rare, fiery denial, stating grief can cloud memory. The public war of words has reignited UK debate over the royal family’s conduct following Diana’s death.
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Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- Both sides agree the palace's response attacked Spencer's credibility rather than denying the specific claim, which is suspicious.
- Both agree the monarchy treated Diana poorly during her life and that her legacy is being used for commercial gain by multiple parties.
- Both acknowledge the power imbalance between Spencer and the palace's PR machine.
Points of contention
- Western Agent believes Spencer's memory of the phone call is reliable due to its traumatic nature, while Neutral Agent argues trauma distorts memory and makes it less accurate.
- Western Agent sees the palace's non-denial as a confession of guilt, while Neutral Agent views it as strategic PR to avoid engaging the story.
- Western Agent frames Spencer as a truth-teller challenging institutional power, while Neutral Agent sees both Spencer and the palace as self-interested actors selling narratives.
Blind spots
- Neither side addresses the possibility that Spencer's account could be partially true but exaggerated over time.
- Both ignore the impact on William and Harry, who are caught between their uncle's claims and their father's reputation.
- The debate overlooks the role of the media in amplifying these stories for profit, regardless of their accuracy.
WorldAttention’s read
This debate boils down to a fundamental disagreement about how to weigh a single, unverifiable memory against a pattern of institutional behavior. Western Agent argues that the palace's secrecy and history of cruelty make Spencer's account credible, especially since they attacked the messenger instead of denying the claim. Neutral Agent counters that trauma distorts memory, that Spencer has a financial incentive to publish, and that suspicion is not proof. Both sides agree the palace's response was suspicious, but they split on whether that suspicion justifies belief. The honest takeaway is that we have one man's 29-year-old memory and an institution that chose character assassination over denial—no recording, no third party, no contemporaneous evidence. Anyone claiming certainty is selling something, whether it's books or royal PR. Diana's memory deserves better than to be a pawn in this fight.
Reporting timeline
Diana's brother Charles Spencer accuses King Charles III of acting like a lottery winner after her death
In a new book, Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, has made fresh accusations against King Charles III, claiming the monarch behaved like a 'lottery winner' following Diana's death in 1997. The remarks, reported by German news outlet Die Welt, highlight the deep and ongoing rift between Spencer and the British royal family. Correspondent Arndt Striegler noted that Spencer has never had a particularly good relationship with the royal family. The book is expected to further strain relations, as Spencer openly criticizes the king's demeanor in the aftermath of the tragedy. The article presents these claims as Spencer's personal perspective, not established fact.
Read sourcePalace rejects claims King Charles was ‘elated’ after Princess Diana’s death
Buckingham Palace has formally rejected claims that King Charles III was 'elated' following the death of his former wife, Princess Diana, in 1997. The denial comes in response to renewed allegations made by Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, who stated in recent interviews that the then-Prince Charles sounded 'giddily elated' and 'like a lottery winner' during a phone call shortly after Diana's death. Spencer's claims have reignited public scrutiny of the royal family's reaction to the tragedy. Multiple major news outlets, including The Washington Post, CBS News, CNN, NBC News, and People.com, are covering the story, highlighting the ongoing turmoil within the British monarchy. The palace's rejection of the claims is a direct effort to counter the narrative presented by Spencer, who has also alleged that the royal family denied Diana's funeral requests.
Read sourceDiana's brother claims King Charles sounded 'giddily elated' after her death
Charles Spencer, the brother of Princess Diana, has made new claims about King Charles III's reaction to Diana's death in 1997. In his upcoming book and in interviews promoting it, Spencer alleges that during a phone call shortly after Diana's death, King Charles (then Prince of Wales) sounded 'giddily elated' and 'like a lottery winner.' Spencer also claims that the royal family denied Diana's request for a specific funeral arrangement. These allegations have been widely reported by multiple news outlets including NBC News, CBS News, The Guardian, People.com, and The Independent. The Guardian's Marina Hyde has written a commentary piece on the claims. The reports are based on Spencer's statements and his forthcoming book, and represent his personal account and interpretation of events.
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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 sourceEarl Spencer claims King Charles sounded 'giddily elated' after Princess Diana's death
Charles Spencer, the brother of Princess Diana, has made explosive new claims against King Charles III in a forthcoming memoir. According to multiple news reports aggregated by Google News, Spencer alleges that the then-Prince Charles sounded 'giddily elated' on the night of Diana's death in 1997, comparing his demeanor to that of a 'lottery winner.' The claims have sparked a war of words between the palace and Earl Spencer, with Buckingham Palace reportedly disputing the account. The story is covered by major outlets including CNN, Reuters, BBC, and Yahoo, with one report noting that Prince Harry seemingly ignored a question about his uncle's memoir at a UK event. The allegations are central to Spencer's new book about his sister's life and death.
Read sourceKing Charles and Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer in war of words over book claims
A public dispute has erupted between King Charles III and Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer and brother of the late Princess Diana. The conflict stems from claims made in Spencer's new book about his sister. According to reports from multiple outlets including Page Six, CNN, and the BBC, Spencer alleges that King Charles sounded 'giddily elated' on the night of Diana's death in 1997. The book also reportedly includes Diana's claim that Charles 'is in love with his valet.' Buckingham Palace has strongly denied these allegations, calling them false and deeply hurtful. The Washington Post reports that the Palace has 'hit back' at the claims. Page Six's headline quotes Spencer referring to the King as a 'bellowing buffoon,' indicating the personal and acrimonious nature of the exchange. The story is being widely covered by major international news organizations, highlighting its significance as a new chapter in the long-running tensions between the royal family and the Spencer family.
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 sourceEarl Spencer Claims King Charles Sounded 'Giddily Elated' After Princess Diana's Death
Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, has made new claims about King Charles III's reaction to Diana's death in 1997. In a forthcoming book, Spencer alleges that Charles sounded 'giddily elated' on the phone the night Diana died. The claims have sparked a war of words between Buckingham Palace and Spencer. The Palace has broken its own 'never complain, never explain' rule to respond, denying the allegations. Other claims in the book include Diana stating that Charles 'is in love with his valet.' The story is covered by multiple major news outlets including BBC, CNN, and People.com, indicating significant media interest in the royal family controversy.
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.
Read sourceBuckingham 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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