LONDON – A new book titled “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” written by Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, has stirred up significant attention globally. Released on Tuesday, the book includes serious claims about Charles’s ex-husband, now known as King Charles III, and has reopened old wounds within the British royal family.
In his book, Spencer recounts a heated discussion he had with Prince Charles concerning the funeral arrangements for Diana in 1997. He alleges that he argued against the decision for Prince William and Prince Harry, who were only 15 and 12 at the time, to walk behind their mother’s coffin. Spencer stated that Diana would not have wanted her sons to endure such a painful experience. According to him, Prince Charles reacted angrily during their disagreement, proclaiming, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” Spencer also accused Charles of showing “contempt” for Diana and suggested that he seemed “elated” after her passing.
After parts of the book were released, Buckingham Palace issued a rare and strong statement, which is unusual for the typically measured responses of the royal family. The statement acknowledged the complexities of grief, suggesting that long-standing pain can affect how people remember events.
Charles Spencer firmly stands by his claims, expressing to the BBC that he is speaking the truth. In response to the palace’s statement, he posed a thought-provoking question: “Is he furious? Is he furious or is he embarrassed?”
This exchange has brought renewed focus to the tumultuous history between Charles and Diana. They were married in a grand ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1981, but their relationship was fraught with difficulties, leading to their divorce in 1996. A decade after their split, Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles, who is now Queen Camilla.
Charles Spencer, who is the 9th Earl Spencer, has consistently criticized the royal family for their treatment of his sister. The tension between the Spencers and the royals was notably depicted in the film “The Queen” and the Netflix series “The Crown.” In his emotional eulogy at Diana’s funeral, Spencer emphasized that her “blood family” would continue her legacy of love and care, which many interpreted as a pointed remark towards the royal family.
At the time of Diana’s death, there was widespread sentiment that the royal family was slow to respond to the global outpouring of grief, revealing a perceived disconnect between the monarchy and the public.
The royal family has since worked to move past that crisis. The more relatable approach taken by Prince William and Prince Harry, as well as King Charles in recent years, is seen as a response to the lessons learned from that challenging period.
In his book, Spencer also expresses concern about how the royal family treated young Harry following Diana’s death. He vividly describes how Harry appeared “tiny, and slight, and bereft” after the funeral, emphasizing that he needed his mother’s love and support, which was tragically lost to him.
Some critics have questioned the necessity of revisiting these painful memories after so many years. Spencer explained that he wanted to document his own thoughts and experiences about Diana to counteract what he views as misleading narratives propagated by others.
When asked if he sees similarities between the media treatment of Harry and his wife, Meghan, and the way the press treated Diana, Spencer replied that it is disheartening to witness echoes of his sister’s struggles in the current circumstances.
Penguin Press has announced that the book will be available worldwide and translated into twelve languages, allowing a broader audience to engage with the story of Princess Diana as told by her brother.
