Charles Spencer: Swan Song Alleges King Charles's 'Contempt' for Diana

• Charles Spencer's new book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," contains fresh allegations against King Charles III regarding his conduct after Princess Diana's death.
• Spencer claims King Charles was "ballistic" when he opposed plans for Princes William and Harry to walk behind their mother's coffin in 1997.
• The book also alleges King Charles expressed "contempt" for Diana and sounded "elated" after her passing.
• Buckingham Palace issued a rare, strongly worded statement in response, suggesting grief can cloud judgment.
• Spencer's memoir further details Princess Diana's pre-wedding doubts and suicidal thoughts, attributing her death to paparazzi.

These allegations from Charles Spencer, detailed in his new book, paint a stark picture of King Charles's alleged demeanor following the tragic death of his former wife.

A recently published memoir by Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, has ignited a fresh controversy surrounding King Charles III. The book, titled "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," which hit shelves on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, presents a series of damning allegations concerning the monarch's past conduct. Among the most striking claims, Spencer recounts a heated argument with the then-Prince Charles over the arrangements for Diana's 1997 funeral procession.

Spencer asserts that he vehemently opposed the palace's decision for Princes William, then 15, and Harry, then 12, to walk behind their mother's coffin. He conveyed to Charles that Diana, who tragically died in a car crash in Paris at age 36, would not have wished for her young sons to endure such an ordeal. According to Spencer, the prince reacted with extreme anger, becoming "ballistic" during their exchange. Spencer further alleges that Charles dismissively stated, "Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough," and displayed "contempt" for his ex-wife, even appearing "elated" after her death.

The publication of these allegations from Charles Spencer, detailed in his new book, paints a stark picture of King Charles's alleged demeanor following the tragic death of his former wife. This is not the first time Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, has publicly clashed with the royal family over their treatment of his older sister. Tensions between the Spencer family and the monarchy after Diana's passing have previously been dramatized in the film "The Queen" and the Netflix series "The Crown," highlighting a long-standing rift.

In response to excerpts from "Swan Song," Buckingham Palace issued a notably strong statement, a departure from its usual measured tone. The palace's communication stated, "His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss." Spencer, however, has stood firm on his claims, telling the BBC that his account is truthful and questioning the palace's reaction by asking, "Is he furious or is he embarrassed?" Many observers at the time of Diana's death felt Queen Elizabeth II and her family were slow to acknowledge the global outpouring of grief, leading to a perception that the monarchy was out of touch with public sentiment. Spencer's eulogy at his sister's funeral, where he vowed her "blood family" would uphold her "imaginative and loving" legacy in raising her sons, was widely interpreted as a direct criticism of the royals.

Beyond the direct allegations against King Charles, Spencer's memoir also sheds light on Princess Diana's profound personal struggles. He reveals that Diana attempted to call off her engagement to Charles after discovering he had purchased a bracelet for Camilla Parker Bowles, who he would later marry in 2006, a decade after his 1996 divorce from Diana. Diana also reportedly tried to withdraw from the wedding, confiding in her father that she believed Charles did not love her. Her father, however, reportedly insisted it was impossible to back out of such a significant commitment at that stage.

The book further details Diana's battle with suicidal thoughts, recounting instances where she drove to the famous chalk cliffs at Beachy Head on England's south coast, contemplating "ending it all." Spencer, echoing sentiments expressed by his nephew Prince Harry, also places blame on the media for his sister's death, asserting that the paparazzi were the "leading cause of her death." These revelations contribute to the ongoing public fascination with Princess Diana's life and the circumstances surrounding her tragic end.

The release of "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister" has once again brought the complex history of the British royal family and the enduring legacy of Princess Diana into sharp focus. The book, priced at 28 pounds ($37.43) for the hardback edition, was prominently displayed in London bookshops on its release day, with some retailers offering it at half price. Despite the initial buzz, early sales figures were not described as brisk.

Nevertheless, the public interest remains palpable. Mary Scheible, a retired pharmacist visiting from Atlanta, expressed her eagerness to read the book immediately, noting her lifelong fascination with Diana's story, particularly as she herself married in 1981, the same year Charles, then 32, wed the 20-year-old Lady Diana Spencer in a lavish ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The new publication reignites long-standing tensions between the Spencer family and the monarchy, bringing decades-old grievances back into the public eye.

Source: Original reporting via Associated Press