Charles Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana, is set to publish “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” on Tuesday. The book revisits Diana’s life and her marriage, including her relationship with the man who is now King Charles. Ahead of publication, excerpts described Charles’s reaction after Diana’s death in 1997.
In those pre-released passages, Spencer alleges Charles was “giddily elated” in the aftermath of Diana’s death, a claim that reopens a painful moment for the royal family. Buckingham Palace rejects Spencer’s account and responds with a statement saying grief can cloud judgment and memory. The reaction has intensified public attention as the book is positioned as Spencer’s perspective, based on what he calls his experience as an eyewitness to history.
While outlets note Spencer’s earlier writings about British kings and his track record as an author, they diverge mainly in framing—one highlights the idea of “royal wounds” being reopened, while another emphasizes the “ruckus” following Buckingham Palace’s unusually direct rebuttal.