New Royal Memoir Allegations
Earl Spencer Claims King Charles Sounded Elated Following Princess Diana's Death
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Spencer says he learned of the crash from a late-night call from his sister Jane while he was at his home in Cape Town, South Africa, on Aug. 31, 1997.
2
According to Spencer, Charles told him that he had informed William and Harry of their mother’s death that morning in their bedrooms at Balmoral; Spencer described the account as sounding “strangely matter-of-fact.”
3
Spencer says the memoir was written partly to correct what he regards as “untruths” about Diana, framing the book as an effort to defend his sister’s reputation.
4
The memoir reportedly claims Diana had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, diagnoses that go beyond the general references to her mental-health struggles in the summary.
5
Spencer also alleges that Diana visited Beachy Head, a well-known suicide location, several times but refrained from ending her life because of her love for William and Harry.
Earl Spencer claims King Charles sounded "giddily elated" and "like a lottery winner" when calling him after Princess Diana's death in 1997, according to Spencer's forthcoming memoir Radio Royal. The allegation, from *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister*, suggests Charles was emotionally detached during a dispute over whether young Princes William and Harry should walk behind their mother's coffin at her funeral In Style. Spencer says Charles told him, "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough," during the conversation The Mirror.
Buckingham Palace responded with an unusually direct statement, saying grief can "cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory" over many years Seaside Radio. The Palace did not explicitly deny Spencer's account. The 384-page memoir is set for global publication on September 22, with the claims unlikely to ease tensions between the Spencer family and the Royal Family The Resident.
Spencer's Account of a Cold Phone Call
Spencer was in Cape Town, South Africa, when his sister Jane called late on August 31, 1997, to tell him Diana had died in a Paris car crash Radio Royal. Charles phoned Spencer the next morning after telling William, then 15, and Harry, then 12, of their mother's death at Balmoral Castle. Spencer describes the account as sounding "strangely matter-of-fact."
The real tension erupted when officials pushed the boys to walk in the funeral procession. Spencer believed Diana would have opposed this. He alleges Charles responded coldly, saying "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough." Spencer now speculates Charles was thinking about marrying Camilla rather than mourning In Style.
New Details About Diana's Private Struggles
Beyond the phone-call allegations, Spencer's memoir introduces specific mental-health diagnoses for Diana not previously detailed publicly. He claims she suffered from Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), conditions that went beyond earlier general references to her emotional difficulties Seaside Radio.
Spencer also reveals that Diana visited Beachy Head, a well-known suicide location in England, several times but chose not to end her life. He says her love for William and Harry kept her going during those dark moments. These revelations aim to paint a fuller picture of Diana's internal pain The Resident.
Palace Responds With Caution, Not Denial
Buckingham Palace broke its usual silence on books to address Spencer's claims. Rather than flatly denying his account, the Palace issued a statement suggesting Spencer's memories may be unreliable. It noted that "fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss" Seaside Radio.
The Palace's approach—implying faulty recollection without calling Spencer a liar—is a carefully calibrated defensive move. Royal observers view the unprecedented pre-publication response as a sign of serious concern about reputational damage ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana's death in August 2027 The Mirror.
Why Spencer Is Publishing Now
Spencer frames the memoir as his duty to defend Diana's legacy and correct "untruths" about her that have persisted for nearly three decades. He says he is telling "the truth about Diana from her brother's perspective" In Style. The book will be released in 12 languages globally, suggesting a major publishing push.
The timing—just before the 30th anniversary of Diana's death—reignites long-standing tensions between the Spencer family and the Royal Family. The memoir threatens to overshadow King Charles's efforts to consolidate his reign and could complicate his relationship with Princes William and Harry, who must now navigate between their uncle's claims and their father's response Radio Royal.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
208
Articles
741
Reach
949
A
AnonymousAuthor
