Fresh claims about King Charles III’s reaction to Princess Diana’s death have emerged ahead of the release of a memoir by her brother.
In Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, Charles Spencer recalls speaking with the then-Prince Charles shortly after Diana died in 1997.
Spencer claims Charles sounded “giddily elated” during their conversation. He compared the tone to that of a “lottery winner” and suggested Charles may have felt free to marry Camilla Parker Bowles.
Buckingham Palace Responds to Claims
The allegations prompted an unusual response from Buckingham Palace.
A palace spokesperson said the King did not comment on books as a matter of principle. However, the statement addressed Spencer’s account by referring to the effects of grief on memory and judgment.
“While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss,” the spokesperson said.
The response marked a rare public intervention by the palace over claims concerning the royal family.
Dispute Over Diana’s Funeral
Spencer also describes a disagreement with Charles over Diana’s funeral procession.
According to Spencer, he received an angry phone call concerning whether Princes William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin.
He claims Charles told him, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!”
Spencer said he strongly opposed the idea of William and Harry walking behind Diana’s coffin. The princes were 15 and 12 respectively when their mother died.
Both William and Harry have previously spoken about the emotional difficulty of walking behind Diana’s coffin.
Charles and Diana’s Complicated Marriage
Diana died aged 36 when the car carrying her and Dodi al-Fayed crashed in Paris while being pursued by paparazzi.
Her death triggered widespread grief in Britain and renewed scrutiny of the royal family.
Charles and Diana had separated in 1992 before divorcing in 1996. Their marriage had faced intense public attention, including Diana’s 1995 BBC interview.
She famously referred to Charles’ relationship with Camilla by saying, “there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”
Charles later married Camilla in 2005.
New Claims About Diana’s Struggles
Spencer’s memoir also contains claims about Diana’s emotional struggles during her later years.
He wrote that Diana drove to Beachy Head, a coastal location associated with suicides, while contemplating ending her life.
However, Spencer said her love for William and Harry prevented her from going further.
The claims add another deeply personal dimension to the forthcoming memoir, which Spencer says presents Diana’s story from his perspective as her brother.
Former Palace Adviser Questions Allegation
Julian Payne, who served as Charles’ communications secretary, said he found the reported remarks difficult to believe.
“It’s just not language that I recognise,” Payne said.
Royal commentator Roya Nikkhah also highlighted the significance of the Palace’s decision to respond publicly.
The memoir is due to be released on September 22, with excerpts appearing ahead of publication.
As further extracts emerge, the dispute is likely to keep attention focused on competing recollections of the period surrounding Diana’s death and funeral.
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