Introduction
A new Princess Diana book has placed King Charles at the center of renewed royal controversy after Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, alleged that the future king made a dismissive remark about his former wife shortly after her death in 1997.
The claim appears in Spencer’s forthcoming memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which is scheduled for publication on September 22, 2026. Buckingham Palace responded to the allegations with an unusually direct statement about grief, memory, and the way past events are recalled. <Cite refs={[“turn1search1″,”turn1search6″,”turn1search15”]}/>
The dispute centers on a private conversation described by Spencer and the palace’s rejection of the characterization of King Charles.
Background and Context
Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, at the age of 36. Her death prompted widespread public mourning and became one of the most consequential moments in the modern history of the British royal family.
At the time, Diana’s sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were 15 and 12 years old. Both walked behind their mother’s coffin during the funeral procession. The decision has remained a subject of discussion because of the emotional burden placed on the young princes. <Cite refs={[“turn1search4″,”turn1search6”]}/>
Charles Spencer, Diana’s younger brother, is now revisiting that period in his memoir, offering his personal account of her life, death, and the events surrounding the funeral.
The book’s publication has renewed public interest in the relationship between Diana, the royal family, and the people who knew her most closely.
Latest Update: What Charles Spencer’s Book Claims
In an excerpt published by the Daily Mail and reported by CNN, Spencer recounts a telephone conversation with the then Prince Charles shortly after Diana’s death.
Spencer says the conversation became heated after he objected to the idea that William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin. He alleges that Charles responded with the words:
“Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”
The quotation is Spencer’s account of the conversation, as reported in the book excerpt. It has not been independently established as a verified transcript of the call. <Cite refs={[“turn1search1″,”turn1search6″,”turn1search7”]}/>
Why the claim has attracted attention
The alleged remark touches on the public’s long-standing interest in Diana’s legacy and the royal family’s response to her death.
Spencer’s account presents the conversation as an example of the tension surrounding funeral arrangements and the family’s handling of Diana’s memory.
The claim has received renewed attention because it appears in a memoir written by a close family member who was directly involved in events following Diana’s death.
Buckingham Palace Responds
Buckingham Palace issued a statement after the allegations became public.
The palace said it does not normally comment on books as a matter of principle. It added that the King is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can affect reason, judgment, and memory in ways that others may not recognize, even many years later. <Cite refs={[“turn1search6″,”turn1search8″,”turn1search11”]}/>
The statement does not provide a detailed account of the telephone conversation. Instead, it challenges the reliability of recollections formed during a period of intense grief.
The palace’s response has drawn attention because of its unusual directness regarding a personal claim involving the King’s former wife and her brother.
A former royal aide offers another account
Julian Payne, a former communications secretary to King Charles, also disputed the characterization of Charles in the book excerpt.
According to reporting by InStyle and other outlets, Payne said Charles had been emphatic that Diana’s memory should be respected and that staff should not criticize her. Payne worked with Charles and Queen Camilla beginning in 2016. <Cite refs={[“turn1news20″,”turn1search2”]}/>
His comments provide a separate account of the King’s stated approach to Diana’s legacy, although they do not independently resolve what was said during the 1997 telephone conversation.
Expert Insights and Analysis
The importance of personal memoirs
Memoirs provide a first-person account of events, but they also reflect the author’s perspective and memory.
In this case, Spencer is recounting events from nearly three decades ago. The palace’s statement specifically raises the possibility that grief may influence recollection.
That distinction matters when evaluating the allegations. The reported exchange is a claim in a forthcoming book, not an independently verified recording or transcript.
The funeral procession controversy
The dispute also brings attention to the decision for William and Harry to walk behind their mother’s coffin.
The princes’ participation became one of the most emotionally discussed aspects of Diana’s funeral. Spencer’s account adds his own perspective on the decision and the conversations surrounding it. <Cite refs={[“turn1search1″,”turn1search6”]}/>
The book therefore addresses both the alleged private exchange and a public event that has remained part of the royal family’s history.
Why the palace statement matters
Buckingham Palace’s response illustrates how historical personal accounts can still generate public statements from the royal household.
The palace did not offer a detailed reconstruction of the 1997 call. Its response focused instead on the broader issue of how grief may affect memory.
That leaves the central factual dispute unresolved in the available reporting.
Broader Implications
For the royal family’s public image
The controversy adds another layer to the continuing public discussion of Diana’s relationship with the royal family.
Her life and death remain subjects of considerable interest, and new personal accounts can renew attention to events that occurred decades ago.
The response also demonstrates the sensitivity of claims involving private family conversations and the memory of a major historical figure.
For publishing and celebrity news
The memoir illustrates how a forthcoming book can become a major news story before its official release.
An excerpt published ahead of publication has generated coverage across international news organizations and entertainment outlets. The attention shows how publishers and media companies use advance material to introduce books to a broad audience.
For digital news audiences
Search trends around King Charles and Charles Spencer show how quickly public interest can grow when a new disclosure connects a prominent public figure with a familiar historical event.
For publishers, the story offers opportunities for timely reporting, historical context, and careful source attribution.
For more technology and digital media coverage, visit The Tech Marketer.
Related History and Comparable Events
Princess Diana’s death in 1997
Diana died in Paris on August 31, 1997, after a car crash. Her funeral became a major public event and a defining moment for the British royal family. <Cite refs={[“turn1search4″,”turn1search6”]}/>
Charles Spencer’s 1997 eulogy
Spencer delivered a widely remembered eulogy at Diana’s funeral. His speech reflected his personal relationship with his sister and the public’s grief following her death.
The continuing interest in Diana’s legacy
Diana’s life has been the subject of biographies, documentaries, television productions, and historical reporting. The new memoir adds another personal account to that body of material.
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister
The forthcoming book is described by its publisher as Spencer’s first extended account of his sister’s life and death. It is scheduled for release on September 22, 2026. <Cite refs={[“turn1search15”]}/>
What Happens Next?
The immediate next step is the publication of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister on September 22, 2026.
The full memoir may provide additional context about the telephone conversation and other events surrounding Diana’s death. Readers will also be able to compare Spencer’s account with the palace’s response and existing historical records.
The central question will remain whether the memoir’s recollections can be independently corroborated.
Conclusion
The new Princess Diana book has reopened discussion about the aftermath of her death and the relationship between her family and the royal household.
Charles Spencer’s allegation about a conversation with the future King Charles has prompted a rare response from Buckingham Palace, which raised concerns about the effects of grief on memory.
The book’s publication on September 22 will provide a fuller account of Spencer’s perspective. Until then, the reported allegations and the palace’s response should be understood as competing accounts of a private historical event.
FAQ
What is the new Princess Diana book about?
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is a forthcoming memoir by Charles Spencer, Diana’s brother. It explores her life, death, and the events surrounding that period. <Cite refs={[“turn1search15”]}/>
What did Charles Spencer claim about King Charles?
Spencer alleges that the then Prince Charles said, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough,” during a heated telephone conversation following Diana’s death. <Cite refs={[“turn1search1″,”turn1search7”]}/>
How did Buckingham Palace respond?
The palace said grief can affect reason, judgment, and memory, and it disputed the characterization of the King in the book’s account. <Cite refs={[“turn1search6″,”turn1search8”]}/>
When will Swan Song: Diana, My Sister be published?
The memoir is scheduled for publication on September 22, 2026. <Cite refs={[“turn1search6″,”turn1search15”]}/>
What was the disagreement about?
Spencer describes objecting to the decision for William and Harry to walk behind their mother’s coffin during Diana’s funeral procession. <Cite refs={[“turn1search1″,”turn1search6”]}/>
Has the alleged telephone conversation been independently verified?
The available reports identify the statement as Spencer’s recollection in his memoir. They do not establish an independently verified transcript or recording of the call.
Sources & References
- CNN, Princess Diana’s brother claims King Charles said she would be forgotten after her death
- BBC, Grief can colour memory: Palace responds after Earl Spencer’s claim in Diana book
- Yahoo News, King Charles responds to claims in Earl Spencer’s book about Princess Diana
- The Guardian, Earl Spencer’s memoir claims Prince Charles said of Diana: ‘We’ll forget her soon enough’
- The Guardian, ‘The truth about Diana’: Charles Spencer to publish book about late sister
