Earl Spencer Claims Charles Was Elated After Diana’s Death
Diana’s brother makes new claims in memoir as Palace disputes his recollection
Key Developments:
- Earl Spencer alleges Charles appeared elated after Diana's death.
- Buckingham Palace disputes Spencer's recollection of events.
LONDON (The Guardian) — September 18, 2026: Earl Spencer, the younger brother of the late Princess Diana, has made further claims about the events surrounding her death in extracts from his forthcoming memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
In extracts published on Thursday, Spencer alleges that King Charles, then Prince of Wales, sounded “giddily elated – like a lottery winner” during a telephone conversation following Diana’s death in a Paris car crash in 1997.
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Spencer also claims that some people within Buckingham Palace were “relieved – indeed pleased” by Diana’s death. He writes that he believed Charles may have immediately considered the possibility of marrying Camilla Parker Bowles.
The claims form part of a wider account in which Spencer revisits Diana’s marriage, her relationship with the royal family and arrangements surrounding her funeral.
He also alleges that Buckingham Palace wanted Diana’s sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, as well as Spencer himself, to walk behind her coffin. According to Spencer, officials were concerned that members of the public could direct hostility towards Charles during the funeral procession.
Earl Spencer claims Buckingham Palace wanted William, Harry and himself to walk behind Diana’s coffin to protect Charles from potential abuse. Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA.
The memoir has already prompted a response from Buckingham Palace. In a statement issued after earlier extracts were published, the Palace said it did not generally comment on books but added that the King was “mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory”.
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The statement represents a rare public response to claims contained in Spencer’s memoir. The Palace has not endorsed Spencer’s account of the events described in the book.
Earlier extracts published this week alleged that Charles told Spencer during a disagreement over Diana’s funeral arrangements: “rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” The allegation was also followed by the Palace’s statement questioning how grief may affect recollections of events many years later.
Spencer, 62, has said he wrote the memoir to address what he regards as inaccurate accounts of his sister and to record his own memories of Diana. The book is scheduled for publication next week, ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2027.
The front cover of the memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is pictured. The book is set to be exclusively serialised in the Daily Mail
The latest revelations come as members of the royal family continue with their public engagements.
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Prince Harry attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in London on Thursday. Speaking at the event, he reflected on the origins of the Invictus Games and the impact of military injury and illness.
Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales were visiting the Isle of Bute in Scotland, where they met community members and volunteers.
King Charles also made a public appearance at an artificial intelligence summit at Dumfries House in Ayrshire. In remarks to technology leaders, he warned about the potential dangers of AI being used for harmful purposes and stressed the importance of ensuring that technological development does not undermine human control.
Diana and Charles pictured in March 1981, before they got married. Photograph: PA.
The latest claims in Spencer’s memoir remain allegations based on his recollection of events. Buckingham Palace has disputed the reliability of those recollections without addressing each allegation individually.
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