Spencer’s Books About Diana Stolen from Lorry

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Four copies of Earl Spencer’s upcoming memoir about Princess Diana were stolen from a lorry parked in the Netherlands before the book’s official release. The theft underscores security challenges in distributing high-profile publications and has prompted a police investigation as the memoir’s launch approaches next week.

Four copies of Earl Spencer’s forthcoming memoir about his late sister, Diana, Princess of Wales, were stolen from a lorry in the Netherlands, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. The delivery truck was parked overnight in a rural lay-by when the break-in occurred, with the driver discovering the theft around 8 a.m. local time.

The stolen books were part of a shipment containing thousands of copies of *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister*, which had left a printing facility in central Europe earlier that week and were en route to a warehouse in the Netherlands. The edition was wrapped in black plastic to conceal its contents. The publisher, Penguin Random House, was informed of the incident around mid-afternoon. Dutch police have launched an investigation into the theft.

This memoir marks the first extended account by Spencer, 62, about his sister Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 at the age of 36. The crash also claimed the lives of her partner, Dodi Fayed, and their chauffeur, Henri Paul. The book aims to offer Spencer’s perspective on Diana’s life and family, addressing what he describes as longstanding misconceptions.

Scheduled for publication in the United Kingdom next Tuesday by Penguin Michael Joseph, the book reportedly includes several revelations, covering Diana’s troubled marriage and the challenges faced by the royal family following her death. Spencer has noted that the upcoming 30th anniversary of Diana’s passing has prompted many interview requests, motivating him to share his own reflections and memories in writing.

“I have been inundated with requests for interviews,” Spencer said. “This has convinced me to write down my own thoughts and memories, once and for all, rather than enduring the discomfort of again reading the opinions of others, many of which are based on untruths that have become accepted over time.”

The incident highlights the risks involved in transporting high-profile publications ahead of their public release, with investigations ongoing to recover the missing copies and identify those responsible.

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