Charles Spencer Recalls King Charles's Chilling Reaction to Princess Diana's Death In New Memoir
The excerpt comes shortly after a preview from the book revealed Spencer’s recollection of a heated conversation with Charles about Diana’s funeral.
It seems the upcoming book about Princess Diana by her younger brother, Charles Spencer, is already making waves ahead of its release. The book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, promises a deeply personal account of Diana’s life and death, with Spencer revisiting some of the most painful moments surrounding her 1997 demise. While the book is set to be released on September 22, 2026, an excerpt is already circulating, and the revelations have left everyone shocked.
An excerpt shared by the Daily Mail shares Spencer recalling being at his home in Cape Town, South Africa, when he learned that Diana had died following the August 1997 car crash in Paris. He detailed that as the news spread, his phone “rang constantly” with calls from people offering their condolences and support. Then came a call from the then Prince Charles. Unlike the other people who contacted him, Spencer recalled that Charles did not sound devastated.
He explained, “Unlike my other callers, who were stunned, barely able to articulate their condolences and offers of help, he sounded giddily elated — like a lottery winner, I remember thinking at the time." Spencer continued, “He let me know he had informed William and Harry of their mother’s death, first thing that morning, in their bedrooms at Balmoral. It all sounded strangely matter-of-fact, given the enormity of the disaster." The boys, who were 15 and 12 at the time, were staying at Balmoral with the royal family.
Reflecting on Charles's relaxed tone, Diana's brother elaborated, “Looking back now, I suspect the prince’s first reaction must have been to think more of how this event might free him to marry the woman he loved, rather than appreciating the loss of one he did not."
He noted, “It can be hard to feel too much sympathy for an ex-spouse, or those who care for them profoundly, after a bitter divorce.” However, as per the Earl, Charles was not the only one relieved by Diana's passing. “There were others in the Palace, I already knew, who were relieved – indeed, pleased – that she had gone," he wrote.
The excerpt comes shortly after another preview from the book revealed Spencer’s recollection of a heated conversation with Charles about Diana’s funeral. Spencer said they argued over whether William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin. According to Spencer, Charles eventually told him, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!”
