Nearly thirty years after the death of Princess Diana, her brother, Charles Spencer, shares an honest account of the days that followed, including a surprising phone call with King Charles. Spencer discusses how he found out about his sister’s tragic passing, revealing new information about the tense days that came afterward. Princess Diana died in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997.
In a passage from his forthcoming book, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” which was featured in the Daily Mail on September 17, Spencer recounts the moment he received the news about the crash. At the time, he was in Cape Town, South Africa, when his sister Jane called him with the initial report. Although the severity of the situation was not clear at first, Jane later called back to confirm that Diana had died.
As the news spread, Spencer described receiving many phone calls, but one stood out because it felt different. He noted that when King Charles called, he was in the middle of moving around his home. Unlike the other callers who were shocked and struggling to express their sympathy, Charles sounded unusually upbeat, which struck Spencer as odd.
Spencer went on to recount how King Charles, now 77, mentioned that he had already informed Prince William and Prince Harry about their mother’s death earlier that morning while they were at Balmoral. He noted that Charles’s tone seemed very practical, considering the gravity of what had happened.
Looking back on that conversation, Spencer suggested that King Charles might have been thinking about how the situation could allow him to marry the woman he loved, rather than focusing on the loss of Diana. He mentioned that it can be difficult to feel sympathy for an ex-spouse and those close to them after a tough divorce.
As the family’s designated contact for funeral arrangements, Spencer had to deal with both his grief and the complexities of palace politics. He also mentioned that some people at the Palace felt relieved that Diana had passed away. Tensions grew when Spencer objected to a plan for William and Harry to walk behind their mother’s coffin during the funeral. King Charles reportedly called Spencer to discuss this disagreement, starting the conversation by acknowledging the issue.
The discussion soon became heated, with Spencer recalling how Charles expressed anger. At one point, Spencer thought the king was trying to calm himself, but then Charles expressed what Spencer interpreted as contempt for Diana and a dismay that the public was mourning her.
Spencer said King Charles made a chilling comment, stating that they would forget her soon enough. This left Spencer momentarily speechless, and he expressed his disbelief before hanging up.
Following the publication of this excerpt, Buckingham Palace responded, saying that while they typically do not comment on books, King Charles understands that grief can cloud judgment and memory, even years after a loss. “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” was announced last month and is set to be released on September 22, 2026.
What are your thoughts on Charles Spencer’s revelations about King Charles’s reaction to Princess Diana’s death?
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Source: Amo Media