Earl Charles Spencer attending a public event in formal attire
Awards & Red Carpet

Charles Spencer Claims Royal Family Members Were 'Relieved' By Princess Diana's Death In Bombshell Memoir

The late royal's brother alleges palace insiders and the current King reacted shockingly to the 1997 tragedy.

By Dee AlvarezPublished Updated 2 min read

Princess Diana’s family is opening up about the tragic aftermath of her 1997 death, and the claims are rocking the monarchy once again. Her younger brother, Charles Spencer, has penned a shocking new memoir centered on his relationship with the late Princess of Wales. In the upcoming release, titled *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister*, the Earl reflects on the tense moments that unfolded behind palace doors after the fatal Paris car crash. According to reports surrounding early excerpts of the book, Spencer alleges that key figures within the royal institution felt a sense of relief when Diana passed away. The former royal couple had endured a deeply public, messy divorce that dominated headlines worldwide. Spencer suggests that her sudden absence seemed to resolve ongoing public relations headaches for the firm.

What did King Charles say about Princess Diana after her death One of the most glaring allegations in the book details a direct interaction between Spencer and the man who is now King Charles III. Following the news of Diana's death, her ex-husband allegedly told Spencer on the phone that everyone would move past the tragedy quickly. The narrative claims Charles reassured Spencer by suggesting the public and the palace would forget her in due time. Spencer also describes the mood surrounding the royal family during those initial days of grief as surprisingly upbeat in certain quarters. Reports state he recalled the current monarch appearing strikingly cheerful during a brief encounter as phone calls flooded the estate. The account paints a stark contrast between the global outpouring of grief and the internal reactions of the royal household.

What is Charles Spencer new book about *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister* aims to offer a deeply personal look at the iconic royal through the eyes of someone who knew her best. Beyond the royal conflict, Spencer details their shared childhood and the burdens Diana carried while living in the royal spotlight. However, the bombshell claims regarding the royal family's immediate reaction to her passing are already generating intense global debate. Tensions between the Spencer family and the British monarchy have surfaced repeatedly over the decades. Charles Spencer famously delivered a fiery eulogy at Diana's funeral in 1997, promising to protect her sons from institutional pressures. Decades later, these new revelations prove that old wounds within the royal rift remain far from healed.

The backstory

Verified moments, in order.

Charles Spencer and the royals: Family ties, a funeral rebuke and support for Harry

Queen Elizabeth II’s godson becomes the future king’s brother-in-law, challenges royal convention at Diana’s funeral and remains a presence at his nephews’ milestones.

  1. A royal connection from birth

    Charles Spencer — A royal connection from birth

    Charles Spencer is born on May 20 into an aristocratic family with longstanding royal ties. Queen Elizabeth II is his godmother.

  2. 1981-07-29

    His sister marries the heir

    Charles Spencer — His sister marries the heir

    Lady Diana Spencer marries Prince Charles at St Paul’s Cathedral. The marriage makes Charles Spencer the brother-in-law of the future King Charles III.

  3. 1997-09-06Flashpoint

    A funeral pledge carries a sting

    Charles Spencer — A funeral pledge carries a sting

    Spencer delivers Diana’s eulogy at Westminster Abbey. He pledges that her blood family will help protect William and Harry’s upbringing from the constraints of duty and tradition. The passage is widely read as a rebuke to the royal family.

    Diana was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty.
    Charles Spencer
  4. 2011-04-29

    Back at the Abbey for William

    Charles Spencer — Back at the Abbey for William

    Spencer attends Prince William and Catherine Middleton’s wedding at Westminster Abbey, returning to the church where he delivered his sister’s funeral address.

  5. 2018-05-19

    A place at Harry’s wedding

    Charles Spencer — A place at Harry’s wedding

    Spencer attends Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Diana’s sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes, also attend.

  6. 2024-05-08

    Showing up for Harry

    Charles Spencer — Showing up for Harry

    Spencer joins Lady Jane Fellowes at St Paul’s Cathedral for the service marking the Invictus Games’ tenth anniversary. Their attendance gives Harry visible support from Diana’s family; no senior working royals attend.

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People also ask

What is Charles Spencer's new book called?
Charles Spencer's upcoming memoir about his late sister is titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
What did Charles Spencer claim King Charles III said about Diana?
Spencer claims that after Diana's death in 1997, the then-Prince Charles told him people would soon forget her.