A new book published by Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, has sparked a heated controversy within Britain's royal family. In "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," Spencer makes several allegations about Diana's ex-husband, now King Charles III, and their tumultuous relationship. The book has reopened decades-old wounds within the royal family, with Buckingham Palace responding to the allegations with a strongly-worded statement.
According to Spencer, 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. Spencer claims that he told Charles that Diana would not have wanted her boys to undergo the ordeal, but Charles allegedly "went ballistic" and told him that they would "forget her soon enough."
Spencer also accuses Charles of having "contempt" for his ex-wife and of sounding "elated" after her death. These allegations have been strongly denied by the royal family, with Buckingham Palace releasing a statement that said King Charles III is "mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory."
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.
Tensions between the palace and the Spencer family following Diana's death were dramatized in the film "The Queen" and the Netflix series "The Crown." In a eulogy at his sister's funeral, Spencer vowed that her "blood family" would carry on her legacy in raising her two sons. The speech was widely considered a swipe at the royal family.
Spencer has also criticized the royals for their treatment of Prince Harry, saying that he was denied the "calm and nurture" he needed after his mother's death. He described how Harry looked "tiny, and slight, and bereft" after the funeral, and said that he was allowed to "spin out of control."
The book has been published globally and translated into 12 languages, with Penguin Press releasing it to critical acclaim. Spencer said he wanted to write down his own thoughts and memories about Diana, "once and for all, rather than having the discomfort of again reading the opinions of others, many of which are based on untruths."
Key points
- Charles Spencer's book makes damning allegations about King Charles III's treatment of Princess Diana
- The royal family has responded strongly to Spencer's allegations
- The controversy has drawn renewed attention to Charles and Diana's stormy history
