Charles Spencer Shares Heartbreaking Tribute to Princess Diana on 29th Anniversary of Her Death
Princess Diana's brother, Earl Charles Spencer, recently gave an ode to one of the darkest days in British royal history.
Over the past few months, August 31 has largely become a point of discussion on whether Prince William and Prince Harry will reunite. The fateful day marks one of the most tragic days in British history as it bears witness to the untimely and horrific demise of one of the UK’s most beloved figures, Princess Diana. This year, it will be 29 years since the world lost its People’s Princess, two young boys lost their mother, and a brother his sister.
On Monday, Diana’s younger brother, Earl Charles Spencer, shared a heartbreaking tribute to the late Princess of Wales through social media. He posted a picture of the flag flying at half-staff at their childhood home, Althorp in Northamptonshire. “31 August. My least favorite day,” he wrote on Instagram. Diana is buried on an island in the Round Oval Lake at the family estate.
Spencer had said that her two sons being able to visit her final resting place brought him comfort. “I think it’s very important for them to be there with her. It is, luckily, very tranquil here, and they can come and go as they wish whenever they want. And that’s very lovely for me to know that,” he told PEOPLE. While Althorp opens for the general public for two months every year from July 1st, Diana’s birth anniversary, to August 31st, her death anniversary, her grave is not accessible to visitors. It can reportedly be viewed from a distance, and fans can leave flowers at a nearby memorial.
This year, the death anniversary would certainly be even more overwhelming for Spencer, who is set to release a book about Diana next month. Swan Song, as it's titled, will share a “brother’s perspective” on the ups and downs of the royal’s life. “As with my eulogy, I want to speak on Diana’s behalf and do so in an openly positive way,” he said in a press release. The book will set a countdown to the Princess’s 30th death anniversary next year.
Previously, Harry had written extensively about his mother and the impact of her tragic death in his 2023 memoir, Spare. He also wrote about how he still felt her presence in his life. It is believed that last month, he and Meghan Markle took their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to Althorp to visit their grandmother’s final resting place.
August 31 will certainly be a sad day for William and Harry, who are both currently in the UK and yet remain estranged. The two brothers, who were once really close, are reportedly no longer on speaking terms.
