A new book published by Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, has made headlines worldwide with its allegations about Diana's ex-husband, now King Charles III. The book, titled "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," has reopened decades-old wounds within Britain's royal family. Spencer alleges that he argued with the then-Prince Charles over palace plans for Prince William and Prince Harry to walk behind their mother's coffin during her 1997 funeral procession.
According to Spencer, he told Charles that Diana would not have wanted her boys to undergo the ordeal, but Charles allegedly "went ballistic" and told him: "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough." Spencer also accuses Charles of having "contempt" for his ex-wife and of sounding "elated" after her death. These claims have sparked a strongly worded response from Buckingham Palace, which said the king is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason and affect judgment.
The war of words between Spencer and the royal family has drawn renewed attention to Charles and Diana's stormy history. The couple married in 1981 and divorced in 1996, with Charles marrying Camilla Parker Bowles, now Queen Camilla, a decade later. Spencer has long clashed with the royals over their treatment of his older sister, and tensions between the palace and the Spencer family following her death were dramatized in the film "The Queen" and the Netflix series "The Crown."
Spencer's book has also criticized the royals for their treatment of Prince Harry, describing a "lack of obvious care" for the then 12-year-old prince after the funeral. He recounted how "tiny, and slight, and bereft" his nephew looked, and said that instead of calm and nurture, Harry was allowed to "spin out of control." Some critics have questioned why Spencer felt the need to revisit the pain and trauma 30 years on, but he said he wanted to write down his own thoughts and memories about Diana.
The book has been published globally and translated into 12 languages, with Penguin Press releasing it worldwide. Spencer has stood by his claims, insisting to the BBC that he is telling the truth. When asked if the relationship between the press and Harry and his wife, Meghan, mirrors the way the media treated his sister, Spencer said he sees echoes of that now.
The royal family has spent decades putting the period of crisis following Diana's death behind them, with the warmer approach of William and Harry, and more recently the king, being a legacy of that time. However, Spencer's book has brought the pain and trauma back into the spotlight, with some critics questioning the timing of its release.
The book's release has sparked a renewed debate about the royal family's treatment of Diana and the aftermath of her death. With the royal family yet to comment further on the allegations, the war of words between Spencer and the palace is set to continue.
Key points
- Charles Spencer's book makes damning allegations about King Charles III's treatment of Princess Diana.
- The book has sparked a war of words between Spencer and the royal family.
- The allegations have drawn renewed attention to Charles and Diana's stormy history.
