King Charles ‘Seething’ Over Bombshell Claims In New Diana Memoir, Family Friend Reveals
While Spencer has made several remarks about Charles in his book, one particular remark has left the King “deeply wounded and very angry.”
Princess Diana's brother Charles Spencer's upcoming book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is already shaking things up in the royal household. The King is facing fresh allegations surrounding his reaction to Princess Diana’s death, but this time, Buckingham Palace has made it clear that it is not willing to let the allegations go unanswered. While Spencer has made several remarks about King Charles in his book, one particular allegation has reportedly left the King “deeply wounded and very angry.”
In an excerpt obtained by the Daily Mail from the unreleased book, Spencer claims that after Diana's death, the then-Prince Charles told him, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” Reportedly, the comment has left the King distressed. In conversation with Vanity Fair, a family friend to the royals shared, “The king is seething and appalled that these claims have been made in a book where he has had no right of reply. It is why the palace has issued a rare rebuttal.”
Former royal communications secretary Julian Payne also shared a similar opinion. He said he did not recognize “the way the king is being characterized in those remarks.” Payne recalled that Charles was particularly determined to ensure Diana’s memory was respected after her death. “He was absolutely emphatic that we were to respect her memory and not undermine it in any way. When he was telling us there was never to be any criticism or pushback, that wasn’t about him. That was absolutely about the late princess and her memory.” Payne added.
The communications secretary continued, "It seems to me very odd that in the moment itself, with the grief of his family and his own shock, that he would choose that moment to use those words. It’s just not language that I recognize." Furthermore, Queen Elizabeth II aide Dickie Arbiter has also questioned Spencer’s version of events. “It’s not in his character; I have seen him angry, but I don’t believe he would lash out like that,” he said.
The controversy comes as more excerpts from Spencer’s memoir emerge, including his claim that Charles sounded “like a lottery winner” when he spoke about Diana’s death. While the King has not yet openly reacted to the claims, the Palace previously shared a detailed statement reading, “While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss.”
