Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, has released a memoir titled *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister* that has rekindled tensions within the British royal family. The book contains a series of personal and contentious allegations involving King Charles III, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and other senior royals, alongside reflections on Diana’s life and death.
Central to the controversy is Spencer’s account of a phone exchange with then-Prince Charles shortly after Diana’s death in August 1997. Spencer asserts that Charles “hissed” the phrase, “We’ll forget her soon enough,” a comment the Earl recalls as hurtful and dismissive. The Palace responded by attributing Earl Spencer’s interpretation to the effects of grief, stating that “fraternal grief” had clouded his judgment. Spencer, however, has described the King as a “petulant child” and a “bellowing buffoon” in the book and said he felt “gaslit” by Charles during their dispute, emphasizing that his own statements were “straight and true.”
Beyond this confrontation, the memoir delves into other episodes within the royal family. Spencer claims the late Queen initially reacted to news of Diana’s death with the question, “What is she up to now?” He also alleges that the Queen viewed Charles as “resentful” and recounted an instance where she said he even resented “when I taught him the alphabet.” The book further describes a moment when Princess Anne reportedly rejected Spencer’s attempt at small talk, and when Prince Andrew allegedly smirked in church following a reference to the “virgin’s womb.”
Spencer also recounts an encounter with Charles after the death of their father, the 8th Earl Spencer, in 1992. Charles, then Prince of Wales, is said to have remarked that Spencer was “lucky” to inherit the family estate at a young age, expressing frustration at how his own parents treated him “like a child.” Spencer portrays Charles’s behavior during this exchange as immature and petulant.
The memoir touches on other details from Diana’s time in the royal household, including allegations that Charles resented Diana’s popularity during a 1983 tour of Australia. Spencer also recalls how the Queen disapproved of Diana’s hairstyle at the 1984 State Opening of Parliament, where the public focus on Diana’s appearance overshadowed the monarch’s speech. Nevertheless, Spencer acknowledges that the late Queen showed kindness to Diana, noting her televised tribute from Buckingham Palace following Diana’s death, which he believes Diana would have valued.
In addition, Spencer reveals that a legal firm once offered assistance to him and Diana’s sons, Princes William and Harry, to pursue legal action in France related to the crash that killed Diana. He states that he did not respond to this offer.
The memoir was published without prior consultation with the Palace or the King, prompting a defensive response from royal officials. The release has stirred renewed debate about the royal family’s internal dynamics and the enduring legacy of Princess Diana’s life and death.