Charles Spencer, the younger brother of Princess Diana, has made new claims against King Charles III in a forthcoming memoir. According to an extract of a BBC interview released on Friday, Spencer alleged that King Charles III said "we'll forget her soon enough" after Princess Diana's death. Spencer described the king's comments as "monstrous" and insisted he is "telling the truth". The earl made the claims in relation to an alleged row over Princess Diana's funeral arrangements involving her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
The alleged row took place over whether Prince William and Prince Harry should follow Princess Diana's funeral cortege. Spencer claimed that King Charles III "went ballistic" and started ranting about his family's sense of duty. The earl said he listened to the king's outburst, which he described as a significant period, but did not specify how long it lasted. Spencer added that after the king stopped ranting, he expected him to say something more suitable, but instead, the king made the alleged comment about forgetting Princess Diana.
When asked if he has evidence of the king's comments, Spencer said he told close friends and family about the incident immediately. He added that he is "telling the truth" about the king's alleged comments. The earl's claims have prompted an "unprecedented" response from Buckingham Palace, which said "the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason". The palace's response suggests that Spencer's allegations may be motivated by his grief over Princess Diana's death.
Spencer also shared his memories of Princess Diana's funeral, which took place on September 6, 1997. He walked behind Princess Diana's coffin during the funeral procession alongside Prince Harry, Prince William, King Charles III, and the late Duke of Edinburgh. Spencer said he was concerned about Prince Harry's well-being after the funeral, describing him as "tiny, and slight, and bereft". The earl added that he remembers thinking Prince Harry was "too small to be doing this".
In a previously published excerpt, Spencer claimed that King Charles III "went nuts" in a row over Princess Diana's funeral arrangements. The earl alleged that the king told him that Princess Diana "never would have wanted" her sons to walk behind her coffin. Spencer claimed that the king also criticized his family's sense of duty, saying "That's the problem with your family. They've got no bloody sense of duty".
Spencer also made claims about a conversation with Queen Elizabeth II's private secretary, Robert Fellowes, after Princess Diana's death. The earl said that Fellowes told him that the queen had offered to restore Princess Diana's Her Royal Highness title. However, Spencer said he did not see the point in restoring the title, adding that Princess Diana was dead. He also claimed that the queen reacted "tetchily" to news of Princess Diana's car accident.
The allegations made by Spencer have sparked a reaction from Buckingham Palace, which has not directly commented on the claims. However, the palace's response suggests that Spencer's allegations may be motivated by his grief over Princess Diana's death. The earl's memoir is set to be published soon, and it is likely to generate more controversy and debate about the royal family.
Key points
- Charles Spencer alleges that King Charles III said "we'll forget her soon enough" after Princess Diana's death.
- Spencer claims that King Charles III criticized his family's sense of duty during a row over Princess Diana's funeral arrangements.
- Buckingham Palace has responded to Spencer's allegations, saying "the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason".
