Charles III has responded to a claim attributed to Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, about a private conversation involving the late Princess Diana in the days before her 1997 funeral.
The dispute centres on excerpts from Spencer’s forthcoming memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which is scheduled for release in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2026. The book examines Diana’s life and death from the perspective of her younger brother.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the institution does not generally comment on books, but added that grief can affect judgment and memory over time. The statement did not provide a detailed account of the conversation described by Spencer.
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Charles Iii: What Charles Spencer claims
According to accounts of the memoir excerpt, Spencer describes a heated telephone conversation with the then-Prince Charles shortly after Diana died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997.
The reported disagreement involved plans for Prince William and Prince Harry to walk behind their mother’s coffin during the funeral procession. Spencer has said he objected to the boys taking part because of their ages and the intense public attention surrounding Diana’s death.
Spencer’s account attributes a remark to Charles suggesting that Diana would eventually be forgotten. The claim is presented as Spencer’s recollection of a private exchange and has not been independently established through contemporaneous documentation.
Why the 1997 funeral remains significant
Diana’s funeral took place at Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997, six days after her death. The ceremony was followed by a procession watched by large crowds in London and international television audiences.
The Royal Family’s official biography of Diana records that William and Harry were her two sons and that the public mourning surrounding her death culminated in the Westminster Abbey service. Diana was later buried at the Spencer family estate at Althorp.
The funeral became one of the most closely scrutinized royal events of the modern era. The participation of William and Harry, then teenagers, remains an especially sensitive part of public discussion about how the family handled Diana’s death.
What the Palace response means
The Palace response is notable because Buckingham Palace rarely addresses allegations contained in forthcoming books. Rather than disputing each detail, the statement focused on the possibility that grief may influence how events are remembered and later described.
That approach leaves the central account unresolved. Spencer is offering a personal recollection nearly three decades after the conversation, while the Palace has questioned the reliability of memories shaped by profound loss without presenting a competing narrative.
The exchange also highlights the continuing public interest in the relationship between Charles, Diana and her family. Charles and Diana married in 1981, had two sons and divorced in 1996, less than a year before Diana’s death.
What happens next
Further excerpts may emerge before the memoir’s publication. The book is expected to provide Spencer’s broader account of Diana’s family life, public role and legacy rather than focus solely on the reported telephone conversation.
Readers should distinguish between documented events, such as Diana’s death and funeral dates, and disputed recollections about private conversations. At this stage, the claim about Charles’s alleged wording remains attributed to Spencer’s memoir and has not been independently verified.
For Canadians, the story is also a reminder of the continuing constitutional and cultural connection between Canada and the Crown. King Charles III remains Canada’s head of state, represented federally by the governor general.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Charles Spencer claim about King Charles III?
Spencer reportedly described a tense conversation after Diana’s death and attributed a remark to the then-Prince Charles suggesting she would eventually be forgotten.
When did Princess Diana die?
Diana died on August 31, 1997, following a car crash in Paris.
When was Diana’s funeral held?
Her funeral took place at Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997.
When will Charles Spencer’s memoir be released?
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is scheduled for publication in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2026.
Has Buckingham Palace confirmed Spencer’s account?
No. The Palace responded by raising concerns about how grief can affect memory, but it did not confirm the alleged wording or provide a detailed alternative account.
Fact-Checked: Key dates, royal family relationships and Diana’s funeral details were checked against official Royal Family information, while the current Palace response was corroborated through multiple reports published on September 16, 2026.
Disclaimer: The allegation about the private conversation remains attributed to Charles Spencer’s forthcoming memoir and should not be treated as independently established fact.