Charles Spencer's New Book Makes Claims About King Charles on Night of Princess Diana's Death; Buckingham Palace Responds

In his newly released memoir, Charles Spencer — Diana's sibling — sets out a number of allegations against King Charles, among them an assertion that the monarch appeared elated on the evening of his former wife's fatal crash, a portrayal that Buckingham Palace has formally contested. In an extract from his memoir published by a British newspaper on Thursday, Spencer recalled that the then-prince had appeared visibly joyful on the night of Diana's death three decades ago, likening his demeanour to that of a lottery winner. An earlier excerpt published by Spencer contends that the heir to the throne told him shortly after Diana's passing that public memory of her would fade — a contention that a palace spokesperson pushed back on Thursday by suggesting that grief between brothers can cloud reasoning, judgement, and recollection long after a bereavement, adding that the palace does not routinely address book publications, as British outlets covered the dispute between Spencer and the king, who had been wed to Diana for fifteen years. In the latest published excerpts, Spencer asserts that certain members of the royal household welcomed Diana's death, and additionally claims that Charles subjected him to a prolonged verbal attack after Spencer argued that Diana's sons — William and Harry, aged 15 and 12 at the time — should not walk behind her coffin, with Spencer writing that Charles conveyed what he characterised as deep-seated disdain for Diana alongside disbelief at the scale of public mourning, reportedly indicating that she would fade from public memory before long. Diana, Princess of Wales — a figure who commanded widespread affection throughout Britain — died at 36 following a car crash in the French capital, after the vehicle transporting her collided with a structure while the driver attempted to outrun paparazzi. The death drew widespread grief across Britain, with questions raised about whether the royal family's response had shown adequate sensitivity. Royal commentators interpreted Buckingham Palace's rapid response to Spencer's claim as a sign of institutional unease over the matter, with Sunday Times royal editor Roya Nikkhah telling a broadcaster that although the palace typically deliberates over whether to stay quiet and adhere to its longstanding policy of neither complaining nor explaining, that course of action would not have been viable on this occasion. The claim extends notably beyond what available evidence can substantiate. "The palace is understood to be aware that additional material will be published in the days ahead and will have taken steps accordingly," as outlets in the United Kingdom drew parallels between the royal household's statement and the response issued by the late Queen Elizabeth in 2021 to concerns about racism within the royal family, as raised by Harry and Meghan. A black gown Princess Diana wore to a 1994 function — the same evening Prince Charles publicly acknowledged his affair outside of marriage — is scheduled for auction in New York this coming December.

Charles Spencer's New Book Makes Claims About King Charles on Night of Princess Diana's Death; Buckingham Palace Responds

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Charles Spencer's New Book Makes Claims About King Charles on Night of Princess Diana's Death; Buckingham Palace Responds

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