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Diana had named Spencer guardian of her sons, and he says he protested that she “would never have wanted to put them through anything so ghastly.” But their father still held final say. The monarch would later phone Spencer directly over the disagreement.
“‘I gather you’ve said you don’t want William and Harry to walk behind Diana’s coffin,'” Spencer recalls his former brother-in-law saying, to which he replied, “Well, of course not, sir. Diana would never have wanted that.”
When Prince Charles noted that he’d walked behind the coffin at his uncle Lord Mountbatten’s funeral, Spencer then responded, “‘But you were 30, sir, and he wasn’t your mother.'”
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
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
“He went nuts,” Spencer wrote. “‘That’s the problem with your family. They’ve got no bloody sense of duty!’ he started, before descending into a general rage. Prince Charles continued his stream of anger, without me interrupting.”
“Then he stopped,” he continued. “I assumed the pause signaled an effort to bring himself under control, but then he 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!'” Spencer recounted now-King Charles reportedly saying. “I was so stunned that it took me a few seconds to reply. ‘I can’t believe you just said that,’ I said flatly, 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
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
Following the Daily Mail’s publication of the excerpt, Buckingham Palace issued a rare 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 color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss,” a spokesperson said.
“Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” was announced last month and is slated for publication on September 22, 2026.