Earl Spencer Was ‘Deeply Disloyal’ to Princess Diana by Writing Swan Song, Says Her Friend
EXCLUSIVE: The historian previously vowed never to 'profit' off his sister's death, now one of Diana's former friends has spoken out
PRINCESS Diana’s former friend has blasted Earl Spencer as ‘deeply disloyal’ for writing so publicly about his sister.
The historian recently released his controversial memoir, Swan Song: Diana My Sister, to widespread criticism. Previously, Charles stated that he would never profit off his sister’s death. In a 1998 TV special with Sally Magnusson, Spencer clearly stated: “Can you imagine anybody making a profit out of their brother or sister's death? It's so low; it's inconceivable. I don't know anyone who would.” He added on the record: “I will never profit from Diana's death.”
Ingrid Seward was one of the last journalists Diana invited to Kensington Palace for a 'girly chat' shortly before her tragic death in 1997. The eminent biographer has now blasted Earl Spencer for doing the exact thing he vowed on television never to do.
Speaking on the Royal Observer’s Palace Unfiltered, Seward stated: “I think that Charles has been deeply disloyal, writing about his sister, putting himself up there, and then to attack the king was so unnecessary.” She continued: “I don't know if what he's saying is accurate, but you know, memory does change over the years.”
In his book, Spencer claimed that then-Prince Charles said about Princess Diana in a conversation, “We’ll soon forget her,” during an argument regarding the funeral arrangements in the days after her death. He claimed Charles III sounded "giddily elated, like a lottery winner," just after her death.
Seward remained doubtful of his claims, as she suggested to us: “If the king did say that [“we’ll soon forget her”], I'm sure it was part of another conversation. He's saying: The boys must do this for her. They must walk behind her coffin because later on, they will regret that they didn't do this. I mean, it could have been that.”
Adding: “Both Charleses are very volatile, and so I can imagine a lot of worse things were said. And I think you know you can misinterpret when you're having a screaming match with someone because it obviously was, because Spencer then hung up the phone.”
The author – who released her new book, Catherine & Diana: The inside story of how the Princesses of Wales shaped the modern monarchy, also suggested that it was possible Spencer ‘misinterpreted’ the words of the former Prince of Wales at the time.
“If you're having a screaming match with someone, which doesn't happen every day, you know, things get totally misinterpreted, and words get changed,” the commentator claimed. “I think unless that conversation had been recorded. We will never know what was actually said … because Charles Spencer's not going to stand down from his position, and the King is never going to say another word about it.”
