Charles Spencer has drawn renewed attention to the unresolved tensions surrounding Princess Diana’s death after an extract from his forthcoming memoir described an alleged phone call with the then Prince Charles shortly before her funeral.
Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer and Diana’s younger brother, says the conversation centred on whether Princes William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin during the funeral procession in September 1997.
According to the account in Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, the argument ended with the then Prince of Wales allegedly telling him, “we’ll forget her soon enough.” The claim has not been independently verified and is presented as Spencer’s recollection of an event nearly three decades ago.
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What Charles Spencer says happened
Spencer’s memoir revisits the days between Diana’s death in Paris on August 31, 1997, and her funeral at Westminster Abbey on September 6 of that year.
The book says a senior royal aide told Spencer that William and Harry would take part in the procession behind their mother’s coffin. Spencer objected, arguing that Diana would not have wanted her sons to be placed in such a highly emotional public role.
He says the dispute led to a telephone conversation with Charles, who insisted that the princes should walk behind Diana’s coffin. Spencer describes the discussion as heated and says the alleged remark about Diana being forgotten followed during the exchange.
The account is significant because Spencer has rarely spoken in detail about the private events surrounding Diana’s funeral. His public eulogy at Westminster Abbey in 1997 was widely viewed as a forceful defence of his sister and a criticism of the pressures she faced within royal life.
Palace issues an unusual response
Buckingham Palace normally avoids commenting on claims contained in books about the royal family. In this case, however, a spokesperson issued a statement referring to the effects of grief on memory and judgment.
The response did not directly address whether the alleged words were spoken. Instead, it suggested that intense personal loss can affect how people remember and interpret events, including many years later.
That wording places the central dispute firmly in the realm of competing personal recollections. Spencer presents the conversation as evidence of Charles’s attitude toward Diana at a moment of national mourning, while the palace response challenges the reliability of the memory without offering a detailed alternative account.
When Swan Song will be released
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is scheduled for publication on September 22, 2026. The book is being released by Penguin in the United Kingdom and by Penguin Press in North America.
The publisher describes the work as Spencer’s account of Diana’s life from childhood through her marriage, public work and final days. It is also positioned as the first time he has spoken openly and at length about his sister’s life and death.
Spencer has said the book was prompted by repeated requests for interviews ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2027. He says he wanted to record his own memories rather than leave the story to accounts he considers inaccurate.
Why the dispute matters
The latest controversy comes as public interest in Diana remains strong nearly 30 years after her death. Her funeral became one of the most watched royal events of the 20th century, and the decision for William and Harry to walk behind the coffin remains a subject of public discussion.
The dispute also highlights the difficulty of assessing private conversations that are recalled long after the event. Spencer’s account is based on memory and has not been supported by a contemporaneous recording or public document.
For readers, the key distinction is between what the memoir alleges and what has been independently established. Diana’s death, the date of her funeral and the participation of William and Harry in the procession are historical facts. The alleged wording of the 1997 phone call remains a contested account.
More extracts may emerge before the book’s official release. Any additional claims will likely renew questions about Diana’s relationship with the royal institution and the long-running tensions between her family and the House of Windsor.
Key dates in the controversy
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 31, 1997 | Diana died after a car crash in Paris. |
| September 6, 1997 | Diana’s funeral took place at Westminster Abbey. |
| August 20, 2026 | The publisher announced Spencer’s memoir and its North American publication plans. |
| September 16, 2026 | An extract containing the disputed allegation triggered a palace response. |
| September 22, 2026 | Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is scheduled for publication. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer?
Charles Spencer is Diana, Princess of Wales’s younger brother and the current Earl Spencer. He is also an author, historian and broadcaster.
What is Charles Spencer’s new book about?
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister recounts Diana’s life, their childhood together and Spencer’s memories of the period surrounding her death in 1997.
What claim has caused controversy?
Spencer alleges that the then Prince Charles told him during a heated discussion before Diana’s funeral that they would “forget her soon enough.” The claim remains disputed.
How did Buckingham Palace respond?
A palace spokesperson referred to the possibility that grief can affect judgment and memory, without directly confirming or denying the alleged conversation.
When will Swan Song be published?
The memoir is scheduled for release on September 22, 2026, in the United Kingdom and North America.
Fact-Checked: Key publication details were checked against the publisher’s announcement, the official Penguin book listing and Althorp’s official website, while disputed claims were presented as allegations.
Disclaimer: The alleged 1997 conversation is based on Charles Spencer’s recollection and has not been independently verified.