‘Grief can colour memory’: Palace responds after Earl Spencer’s claim in Diana book
Palace challenges Earl Spencer’s account of events after Diana’s death
Constantvpn.com – Buckingham Palace has issued an unusually pointed response to allegations made by Earl Spencer, the brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, in an extract from his forthcoming memoir.
Earl Spencer writes that King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, told him “we’ll forget her soon enough” in the days following Diana’s death in 1997. The claim appears in Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which is due for publication next week and is expected to revisit painful divisions surrounding the royal family after Diana died in a car crash.
A Palace spokesperson did not address the detail of the book directly, stressing that the Royal Household does not usually comment on publications. However, the statement questioned how grief and the passage of time can shape recollections of traumatic events.
“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 colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.”
Dispute over the funeral procession
The central episode described by Earl Spencer concerns the decision for Princes William and Harry to walk behind their mother’s coffin during her funeral procession. William was 15 at the time and Harry was 12.
In the memoir extract, Earl Spencer says a senior Palace aide informed him that the two boys would take part in the procession. He objected, believing Diana would not have wanted either son placed in that position. He then describes receiving a telephone call from Charles.
Earl Spencer portrays the conversation as angry and emotionally charged. He writes that Charles expressed resentment towards Diana and distress at the public response to her death.
“He [Charles] unleashed down the phone what I have always taken to be his pent-up contempt for Diana, and his horror that the world was so bowled over by her death. ‘Rest assured,’ he hissed, ‘we’ll forget her soon enough’.”
The full book has not been made publicly available, leaving the wider context of Earl Spencer’s account unknown. Its release is nevertheless likely to renew attention on one of the most difficult periods in the modern history of the monarchy.
A moment that remains intensely remembered
Diana’s death in Paris in 1997 triggered a profound public reaction in Britain and around the world. Her funeral became a defining national event, with enormous crowds gathering in London and widespread scrutiny of the royal family’s public response.
At the time, the monarchy faced criticism from people who felt it had failed to reflect the scale of public sorrow. Diana had remained an exceptionally popular figure, and the atmosphere after her death was marked by anger, grief and a sense that the institution was distant from the mood beyond palace walls.
Earl Spencer’s funeral address added to that emotional tension. His speech was remembered for its fierce defence of his sister and for its criticism of pressures surrounding her life. The new memoir appears set to return to those unresolved feelings, particularly within Diana’s family and among those close to the royal household.
The question of whether William and Harry should have walked behind the coffin has remained one of the most enduring images and debates connected to the funeral. For many observers, the sight of the young princes in public mourning symbolised both the scale of the tragedy and the demands placed upon them.
Prince Harry’s reflections
Prince Harry has spoken in the past about the experience of walking in the procession as a child. He has said that no child should be expected to do what he did at the age of 12.
In a 2017 interview, however, Harry also made clear that his feelings about the decision were complicated. He said he did not have a firm view on whether it had been right or wrong, while adding that, in retrospect, he was glad to have taken part in the day.
That ambivalence reflects the difficulty of reaching a simple conclusion about an event shaped by bereavement, public expectation and the unique pressures faced by the royal family. The Palace’s response to Earl Spencer similarly places emphasis on the ways intense personal loss may affect memory and judgment long after the event itself.
Book copies stolen before publication
Attention surrounding the memoir increased after copies of its Dutch-language edition were stolen in the Netherlands. Four copies were taken from a truck while it was travelling from the Dutch publisher’s printers to a warehouse.
The theft occurred before the book’s official release and added an unexpected complication to a publication already attracting considerable interest. Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is expected to examine Earl Spencer’s relationship with Diana and his view of the royal family during the period around her death.
Its publication will likely reopen debate not only over the funeral procession but also over the broader legacy of Diana’s death. Nearly three decades later, the memory of that week continues to carry emotional weight for her family, the monarchy and the public.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Grief can colour memory?Grief can colour memory is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does Grief can colour memory matter?Grief can colour memory matters because readers are looking for a useful answer, not just a short summary. Good content should match search intent and help them decide what to do next.