Earl Spencer has defended his new memoir, *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister*, amid a growing dispute over its depiction of late Princess Diana and the royal family. The book, which was published this week, sparked controversy after Spencer alleged that then-Prince Charles, now King Charles III, made a call to him shortly after Diana’s death in 1997, saying, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” This claim has drawn sharp criticism from royal biographer Tom Bower and others.
In an interview on BBC with Laura Kuenssberg, Earl Spencer insisted his account was truthful, describing the alleged remark as “monstrous.” He recounted the phone call, saying the future king initially “went ballistic,” criticizing Spencer’s family before ending with the disputed comment. Spencer said he was so shocked by the remark that he hung up on Charles and shared the incident with close friends and family shortly thereafter.
The book also suggests that Diana considered taking her own life by driving to Beachy Head cliffs but ultimately stopped because of her love for her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. Additionally, Spencer criticized the royal family for what he described as a “lack of care” during Diana’s later years.
Tom Bower, whose own biographies of the royal family have a significant following, strongly disputed Spencer’s depiction of Charles. Bower described the claims of Charles’s “giddily elated” reaction after Diana’s death as “complete rubbish.” According to Bower, his sources at Balmoral and elsewhere reported that Charles was visibly grief-stricken and devastated at the time. Bower also suggested that Spencer’s motives were linked to financial and personal struggles, drawing parallels to Prince Harry’s own controversial memoir, *Spare*, which was published by the same publisher, Penguin Books.
Prince Harry was reportedly aware that Earl Spencer was working on the memoir and had discussed the project with him at the Spencer family estate in Northamptonshire earlier this year. However, it is understood that Harry did not know the specific contents of the book before its release. The Sussexes recently returned to the United Kingdom after six years residing in California, with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet enrolled in local schools.
The timing of the memoir’s release has ignited speculation about a coordinated effort to challenge the royal family, with some commentators describing it as a “pincer movement.” Veteran royal analyst Richard Fitzwilliams echoed this view, suggesting the book and its headlines were designed to blindside the monarchy. He advised the palace to refrain from immediate public commentary on the claims, warning against fueling further controversy.
The publication of *Swan Song* continues to deepen divisions within royal circles, underscoring ongoing tensions surrounding the legacy of Princess Diana and the current dynamics of the British monarchy.