Earl Spencer Claims Charles Said Diana Would Be Forgotten

Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, has made a significant claim in his forthcoming memoir, alleging that King Charles expressed contempt for Diana shortly after her death. According to an extract from Spencer's book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," Charles reportedly said, "we'll forget her soon enough," days after Diana's tragic car accident in 1997. This claim was published by the Daily Mail and has sparked a response from Buckingham Palace.

The Palace, while maintaining its policy of not commenting on books, issued a statement emphasizing the impact of grief on memory and judgment. A spokesperson stated, "His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss."

Earl Spencer's book, set to be published next week, is expected to be critical of the Royal Family. The BBC has not reviewed the book in its entirety, but the released extract indicates Spencer's disapproval of the decision for Princes William and Harry to walk behind their mother's coffin during her funeral procession. Spencer claims he was informed by a senior Palace aide about this decision and received a phone call from Charles expressing his discontent.

The death of Diana, a beloved public figure, led to widespread criticism of the Royal Family, who were perceived as lacking empathy during the period following her passing. Earl Spencer's emotional speech at Diana's funeral further highlighted the tension between the public's grief and the Royal Family's response.

Prince Harry, in a 2017 interview with the BBC, reflected on the experience of walking behind his mother's coffin at the age of 12. He mentioned that while he did not have a definitive opinion on whether it was right or wrong, he was ultimately glad to have been part of the day.

In a related incident, it was reported that copies of Earl Spencer's unreleased book were stolen from a truck in the Netherlands. Four copies of the Dutch language edition were taken while being transported from the publisher's printers to their warehouse.

What to Watch

• The release of Earl Spencer's memoir and its potential impact on the Royal Family's public image.
• Reactions from the public and media to the claims made in the book.
• Any further statements or responses from Buckingham Palace regarding the allegations.

The upcoming publication of "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister" is expected to reopen discussions about the Royal Family's handling of Diana's death and its aftermath, potentially influencing public perception of the monarchy.

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