Buckingham Palace has issued an unusually forceful rebuttal to claims made in Earl Spencer’s upcoming memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, addressing an alleged remark by King Charles regarding Diana, Princess of Wales, following her death in 1997 according to BBC News. The dispute threatens to draw intense public scrutiny back to the Royal Family during a busy day of official engagements.
Earl Spencer’s Memoir Claims and Palace Rebuttal
According to excerpts published in the Daily Mail and reported by the BBC, Earl Spencer alleges that the then-Prince of Wales subjected him to a stream of anger over funeral arrangements. The book claims that Charles made the remark, “‘Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough,'” during a contentious telephone call concerning whether Princes William and Harry should walk in their mother’s funeral procession.
Buckingham Palace pushed back strongly against the characterization, issuing a statement addressing the memoir. “While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss,” the Palace said, as reported by the BBC.
Echoes of Past Royal Communications
Observers noted that the phrasing used by the Palace mirrors Queen Elizabeth’s firm response to claims made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2021, which similarly utilized the sentiment that “recollections may vary,” according to BBC News. Julian Payne, the monarch’s former communications secretary, told the BBC that the language attributed to the King in the book was “just not language that I recognise,” adding that the decision to issue a rare public statement demonstrated the strong feelings involved.
The book, set for publication next week, reopens a difficult period in modern royal history. Earl Spencer’s emotional and defiant speech at her funeral added to public friction surrounding the royal household’s initial response to the sudden death of Diana, a hugely popular figure. The upcoming release arrives as King Charles, Prince William, and Catherine participate in scheduled events, coinciding with Prince Harry’s return to the United Kingdom, as detailed by the BBC.
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