Earl Spencer Recalls Being "Retired Early" From Queen Elizabeth's Service for a Bizarre Reason

Earl Spencer reveals why his royal role was cut short during his teenage years.

Charles Spencer's controversial memoir honoring Princess Diana, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, has officially been released. Spencer stands firm on several explosive claims about the royal family, including allegations that King Charles dismissed his ex-wife's legacy just before her 1997 funeral, alongside plans for a Diana documentary by one of his nephews to commemorate the late Princess of Wales's 30th death anniversary next year. In another bombshell confession, the Earl has revealed that he was once entrusted with a prominent royal role that was surprisingly cut short for a bizarre reason.

In his memoir, the Earl disclosed that he was "retired" from an important ceremonial position aiding Queen Elizabeth II for an unexpected reason. Having briefly served as a Page of Honour, which included attending the State Opening of Parliament twice, his tenure was cut short due to a sudden growth spurt. "From the age of twelve to fourteen, I had been a Page of Honour to the Queen, twice helping to carry her train at the State Opening of Parliament, before being retired early, because my height had made the petite Queen look small," Spencer alleged.

Given that Queen Elizabeth was approximately 5 ft 4 in tall, the Earl's teenage height difference created optical challenges during major state events, leading to him being "retired." Shorter pages were typically chosen to ensure the Queen maintained her commanding, regal presence while they assisted with her heavy trains and robes.

A modern example of this tradition is Prince George serving as a Page of Honour during King Charles III's coronation in 2023. Because members of the royal family rarely serve full terms as pages, George's experience was likely a unique one.

The Earl noted in his memoir that most of the Page boys have a personal connection with the royal family. In his case, the late Queen was his godmother, a link that reflected his aristocratic upbringing. Diana was the only Spencer sibling without a royal godparent, Women and Home Magazine reported. "Inexplicably there had been no such royal link for Diana," he wrote, adding, "But, well, she certainly made up for that."

The Earl believed his connection to the Queen did not aid in keeping his Page role after he grew too tall; however, he expressed that his ADHD made long official events particularly difficult for him. Queen Elizabeth was accustomed to traditional events, exemplified by her nearly three-hour coronation.