Palace in war of words with Earl Spencer over claims in Diana book
Palace challenges Earl Spencer’s account of Diana memoir as royal diary fills with major engagements
Constantvpn.com – Buckingham Palace has issued an unusually forceful response to claims made by Earl Spencer in a forthcoming memoir about Diana, Princess of Wales, escalating a dispute over memories of the period following her death in 1997.
The book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is due to be published next week and revisits the aftermath of Diana’s death from the viewpoint of her brother and the wider Spencer family. Extracts have brought renewed attention to one of the most painful and publicly charged moments in modern royal history.
Among the most contentious passages is Earl Spencer’s account of a telephone conversation with the then-Prince of Wales. He writes that Charles reacted angrily after Spencer objected to Princes William and Harry, then aged 15 and 12, taking part in their mother’s funeral procession.
“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 Palace has rejected the portrayal and sought to question the reliability of the recollection. While royal households generally avoid responding to individual books, the statement stressed that King Charles had been confronting his own loss as well as the grief experienced by his sons.
“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.”
A painful chapter revisited
Diana’s death created an extraordinary public response and exposed a sharp divide between the mood of the country and the initial public approach of the Royal Family. As millions mourned, the institution faced criticism that it had failed to reflect the scale of national grief or show sufficient empathy.
Earl Spencer became a central figure in that atmosphere through his emotional funeral address, which gave voice to the anger and sadness felt by many of Diana’s supporters. His new book is likely to reopen long-running debates about family tensions, public expectations and the experiences of William and Harry at the time.
The Palace’s wording recalls another rare moment of royal pushback: Queen Elizabeth II’s response in 2021 to allegations raised by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, when the household said that “recollections may vary”. In both cases, the message signalled a desire to contest an account without engaging in a detailed public argument over every allegation.
The disagreement also underlines the difficulty of revisiting events shaped by intense personal trauma. Diana’s death remains both a private family tragedy and a defining public event, meaning accounts of the period continue to carry considerable emotional and political weight nearly three decades later.
King Charles turns attention to artificial intelligence
The controversy arrives on a day when several senior royals are scheduled to make high-profile appearances. King Charles is due to host leaders from major technology companies at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, where he will focus on the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence.
His expected remarks will address fears that rapidly developing AI could become harmful if its progress outpaces safeguards. The King is set to urge industry figures to ensure the technology remains under human control and serves society rather than undermining it.
“Those in our world who value our humanity and its vital moral component are anxiously seeking your reassurance that we will not lose control of our destiny.”
He is also expected to describe the development of AI as both compelling and troubling, reflecting public concerns over safety, misinformation and the possible impact on employment. Representatives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Nvidia and Google DeepMind are expected to attend, alongside AI minister Kanishka Narayan.
The gathering will consider how innovation can be encouraged while protecting people from misuse and ensuring that countries can work together on standards and security. The King’s argument is expected to centre on the idea that early decisions about artificial intelligence will have consequences far beyond the technology sector.
“The decisions taken at this formative time will shape the world inherited by future generations.”
“And so, the task before you is not merely to advance technology, but to ensure that it remains firmly in the service of humanity, community and the natural world.”
William and Catherine visit the Isle of Bute
Elsewhere in Scotland, Prince William and Catherine will make their first official visit to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. In Scotland, the couple use the titles Duke and Duchess of Rothesay rather than Prince and Princess of Wales.
The programme will highlight community projects and volunteering, including a visit connected to shinty, the traditional Scottish sport. They are also expected to visit a community-owned pub and hear from people working to safeguard the island’s natural environment.
The engagements offer a markedly different focus from the dispute around Diana’s memoir: local participation, conservation and community ownership. Yet the overlap of royal appearances means the family’s present-day work will unfold against renewed scrutiny of its past.
For the Palace, the immediate challenge is likely to be balancing a clear rejection of Earl Spencer’s account with an effort to avoid allowing an old family conflict to dominate the wider royal agenda. For readers, the episode is another reminder that Diana’s legacy continues to shape public understanding of the monarchy, its relationships and its response to grief.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Palace in war of words?Palace in war of words is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does Palace in war of words matter?Palace in war of words 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.