Spencer Accuses King Charles of Gaslighting Him

Spencer alleges that Charles was “giddily elated” when he learned of Diana’s death, and separately claims that, before their wedding, Charles told Diana he was happy to marry her but was not in love with her.
The funeral dispute reportedly centered on whether Princes William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin; Spencer argued that Diana would not have wanted the boys—then 15 and 12—to endure the public procession.
Spencer has rejected suggestions that financial gain motivated the memoir, saying Diana would be “cheering from the rafters” at its publication.
The memoir controversy follows earlier reported tensions between Spencer and Prince Harry: author Tom Bower claimed Spencer warned Harry three times to reconsider marrying Meghan Markle, reportedly at William’s request.
Earl Spencer has accused King Charles of "gaslighting" him after Buckingham Palace pushed back on allegations in Spencer's forthcoming memoir, *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister*. Spencer claims Charles told him after Diana's death, "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough"—a comment he now says the palace's response tried to delegitimize Yahoo News.
The dispute centers on Spencer's recollections of events surrounding Princess Diana's 1997 funeral and her life. Spencer says the palace implied his memory was clouded by grief, which he views as an accusation of dishonesty. The memoir arrives September 22, 2026, and has already sparked tension within the royal family KMFM.
Spencer alleges that Charles was "giddily elated" when learning of Diana's death in 1997 Times and Star. He also recalls Charles telling Diana before their wedding that he was happy to marry her but was not in love with her. Spencer portrays some palace figures as relieved by her passing and describes concerns about how young Prince Harry was treated after losing his mother Yahoo News.
Spencer fought with Charles over whether young Princes William and Harry should walk in Diana's funeral procession Yahoo News. William was 15; Harry was 12. Spencer believed Diana would not have wanted her sons to endure the public spectacle. The disagreement, Spencer now claims, reveals Charles's insensitivity to the boys' wellbeing and the family's grief.
Buckingham Palace stated that grief can cloud judgment and affect memories—a response Spencer views as provocative KMFM. He interpreted it as the palace implying he had lied or misremembered events. Spencer rejected the suggestion, calling the palace's framing an attempt to undermine his credibility rather than engage with his allegations Times and Star.
Spencer has dismissed suggestions he wrote the memoir for money Times and Star. He said Diana would be "cheering from the rafters" at its publication, framing the book as honoring her legacy, not cashing in on it. The memoir draws on Spencer's eyewitness accounts and personal memories spanning decades Yahoo News.
Publishers
26
Articles
104
Reach
130