Charles Spencer's New Book Exposes a Detail About Diana's Marriage That Wasn't in the Panorama Interview
According to the book, the Earl warned Diana that a divorce would mean being blamed publicly for ending a 'fairytale'.
Princess Diana famously described her marriage to King Charles as 'crowded' in her controversial 1995 BBC Panorama tell-all interview. The 'third' person was widely assumed to be Queen Camilla; however, Charles Spencer's latest memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, includes a private confession from the late Princess of Wales that reveals a shocking detail behind the tumultuous end of her royal union with the future monarch, excerpts of which were reported by the Daily Mail.
Spencer begins by noting that, in his book, one day his sister called him in for an urgent meeting at one of her favorite London restaurants — San Lorenzo. The setting was during the period when Diana was separated from Charles. "She looked down at the table and said, ‘Carlos, I’m going to get divorced'", Spencer wrote. What followed next was a brief moment of silence between the siblings. After that, Spencer tried to console Diana with his poignant words. He reflected on the severity of the situation, expressing concern yet offering his support.
However, the Earl warned Diana that this would mean being blamed publicly for ending a 'fairytale'. "You of course have my full support… I know you’ll have thought this through. But my main worry is the public. I fear they won’t forgive you. They’ve bought into a fairytale, and I reckon they may well – wrongly – blame you for destroying their fantasy."
That is when Diana dropped a bombshell confession. "She looked up at me, nodded, and said quietly: ‘But, Carlos, my husband is in love with his valet.’" The excerpt continued: "I gulped. ‘Well, I guess, in that case, you really don’t have a choice." Spencer further highlighted that the late Princess of Wales did not disclose the staff member's identity, nor did he inquire about it, as it was inconsequential; what mattered was the dissolution of her marriage and her dreams.
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the latest allegations from Spencer’s book regarding King Charles. However, it issued a public statement earlier, saying that the palace generally does not comment on books but acknowledged that fraternal grief can affect judgment and memory over time.
According to CBS News, in 2003, rumors regarding an 'incident' involving Charles and a staffer emerged, initiated by claims from a former royal servant. This led a former aide to secure an injunction against the Mail to prevent the publication of a potentially libelous story.
Sir Michael Peat, the then-Prince Charles’ private secretary, issued a rare denial, stating that while he couldn't address the specifics, the allegations were "totally untrue and without a shred of substance." "For anyone who knows the Prince of Wales, the allegation is totally ludicrous," Peat concluded, adding that "the Prince of Wales has told me it's untrue and I believe him implicitly."
