
King Charles Issues a Rare Personal Response to His Former Brother-in-Law's Claims About Diana's Death — His Full Statement
A long-buried royal feud has erupted back into the global spotlight, threatening to permanently alter how the public views Princess Diana's final tragic days.
Decades after the world mourned the People's Princess, explosive claims about what transpired behind closed palace doors are finally coming to light.
The official silence was shattered when Buckingham Palace took the unprecedented step of releasing a direct personal response to defend the monarch.
A Devastating Night in Cape Town
Charles Spencer was at home with his children when his sister Jane called with initial reports of a Paris car crash. He turned on the television to monitor the situation while waiting for updates from courtier contacts.
The tone of early broadcasts felt dismissive, reflecting the persistent criticism Diana endured following her divorce. Dread mounted rapidly when news arrived that Dodi Fayed and Henri Paul had died on impact.

One of thousands of small shrines left in the streets of London by the public during the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997) in London, on September 6, 1997. | Source: Getty Images
When Jane confirmed her sister had passed away, Spencer immediately suspected paparazzi pursuit had caused the tragedy. Calls quickly flooded his home line, including a surprising middle-of-the-night conversation with the Prince of Wales.
According to a memoir excerpt, the monarch sounded "giddily elated" on the phone, reminiscent of a lottery winner. Spencer believed his former brother-in-law was contemplating how the tragedy freed him to marry his true love.

Earl Spencer lays flowers on the island in the grounds of the Spencer family home at Althorp, Northamptonshire, on September 8, 1997, where his sister Diana, Princess of Wales was buried. | Source: Getty Images
Heated Clashes Over Funeral Plans
Tensions escalated dramatically as arrangements for the public funeral began coming together in London. Spencer felt empowered to act on Diana's behalf as the designated guardian for her young sons.
Palace officials initially rejected playing Mozart's Requiem, falsely claiming Anglican rules prohibited it. The conflict reached a boiling point over who would march behind the princess's coffin.

Prince Harry, Prince Charles, Earl Spencer and Prince William at Westminster Abbey for the funeral service for Diana, Princess of Wales, on September 6, 1997. | Source: Getty Images
When told that William and Harry were expected to walk, Spencer flatly refused the proposal as barbaric. The Prince of Wales called back in a testy mood and descended into a fiery rage when challenged.
During the confrontation, Charles unleashed what Spencer viewed as pent-up contempt for his former wife. He allegedly declared, "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough!" leaving Spencer entirely stunned before hanging up.

Earl Spencer, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh follow the coffin to the funeral cortege of Diana, Princess of Wales as it arrives at Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Buckingham Palace Breaks Silence
The allegations created an immediate storm across media outlets as publishers prepared for the book's release. Media outlets including Page Six reported on the Palace's swift reply to the claims.
The royal household took the unusual step of addressing the memoir's contents directly to defend the monarch. A representative for Buckingham Palace issued the King's full response:
"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 multi-colored sea of floral tributes to Diana, Princess of Wales, lie outside the gates of her London home on September 6, 1997. | Source: Getty Images
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The Earl Refuses to Back Down
The public dispute took another unexpected turn during the promotional tour for Swan Song: Diana, My Sister. Spencer doubled down in a broadcast interview with the BBC, insisting his account was entirely accurate.
He stated that he shared the conversation with close family immediately because he found the remarks so monstrous. He noted that the Palace simply attempted to smudge the issue rather than issue an outright denial.
Drama around the release intensified when four copies of the book were stolen from a delivery truck in the Netherlands. With the September 22 release date arriving, the world remains captivated by the feud.
