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Princess Diana’s younger brother Charles Spencer has made fresh claims about her relationship with the British royal family, saying some people inside Buckingham Palace felt “relief — even joy” after her death.
The claims appear in Spencer’s new memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, published on September 22. Excerpts from the book were released in the British media ahead of its publication.
Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, recounts his memories of Diana’s life, her relationship with the royal family and the events following her death in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997.
One of the most controversial claims concerns a telephone conversation Spencer says he had with Diana’s former husband, then Prince Charles, days after her death. Spencer says Charles sounded unusually elated, “like a lottery winner”, when they spoke.
He also claims Charles told him during an argument over Diana’s funeral arrangements: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” Spencer had objected to Princes William and Harry, then aged 15 and 12 respectively, walking behind their mother’s coffin.
Buckingham Palace has pushed back against Spencer’s account, saying grief can affect reason, judgement and memory. Spencer, however, has stood by his recollection, saying he is telling the truth.
The memoir also discusses Diana’s emotional struggles and Spencer’s view that she may have had ADHD and rejection sensitivity dysphoria, though these are his retrospective observations rather than a documented diagnosis.