Buckingham Palace Strongly Rebuts Earl Spencer's Claims in Upcoming Diana Memoir

Buckingham Palace has issued an unusually sharp rebuttal against Earl Spencer following controversial claims published from his upcoming memoir regarding King Charles III and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. The dispute centers on private conversations that allegedly occurred in the immediate aftermath of Diana’s death in 1997, reigniting tensions between the Spencer family and the royal household.

The allegations were revealed through serialized excerpts of Earl Spencer’s forthcoming book, *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister*, which appeared in the *Daily Mail*. In the text, Spencer recounts a tense telephone exchange with the then-Prince of Wales concerning the funeral arrangements for Diana. Spencer had strongly objected to requiring his young nephews, Prince William and Prince Harry—who were aged 15 and 12 at the time—to walk behind their mother’s cortege.

According to Spencer’s account, his objections triggered a furious reaction from the future King. Spencer wrote that Charles directed a "stream of anger" at him, unleashing what Spencer interpreted as long-held contempt for Diana and frustration over the overwhelming public outpouring of grief. Spencer claimed that Charles coldly hissed during the call: "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough."

Buckingham Palace moved swiftly and firmly to discredit the account, expressing deep frustration with the depiction of the King. Palace officials rejected the alleged remarks as completely uncharacteristic of Charles, emphasizing that he was dealing with his own profound grief at the time while prioritizing the care and emotional well-being of his two grieving sons.

In an official response, the Palace highlighted its usual custom of avoiding public disputes regarding memoirs, before directly questioning the reliability of Spencer's recollection. The statement noted that while the institution does not comment on books as a general principle, His Majesty recognizes that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment, and alter memory in manners that others simply do not recognize, even decades after experiencing such a devastating loss.

The measured yet forceful phrasing of the Palace’s pushback echoes the memorable response issued by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2021 following allegations made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, when she famously remarked that "recollections may vary." By directly addressing Spencer’s narrative, royal aides have signaled a firm resolve to defend the King’s reputation against historical grievances.

The timing of the revelations, ahead of the memoir’s full release next week, threatens to unearth one of the most fraught eras in modern royal history. In the days following Diana’s sudden passing in Paris, the monarchy faced severe public backlash for appearing cold, detached, and out of touch with the public mood. That atmosphere of grievance was further amplified by Earl Spencer’s combative eulogy at Diana’s funeral in Westminster Abbey.

The unfolding controversy also threatens to overshadow a series of major public engagements being carried out by members of the royal family across the United Kingdom.

At Dumfries House in Ayrshire, King Charles is stepping into the global debate surrounding artificial intelligence by hosting an executive summit of leading technology firms. The high-level gathering includes representatives from major industry players such as Google DeepMind, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Nvidia, alongside the UK Minister for AI, Kanishka Narayan.

During the summit, the King is expected to warn technology leaders against allowing AI to become a destabilizing force, noting that its rapid development is both intriguing and deeply concerning. Charles will ask how the global community can foster international cooperation to safeguard the technology against misuse, address threats to employment, and ensure safety.

In his prepared remarks, the King will appeal directly to industry pioneers, noting that those who value humanity and its vital moral component are seeking reassurance that society will not lose control of its destiny. He is set to emphasize that the responsibility facing innovators is not merely advancing technological capabilities, but keeping them firmly in the service of humanity, community, and the natural world.

Elsewhere, Prince William and Catherine are undertaking a busy series of regional engagements in Scotland. Carrying out duties under their Scottish titles as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, the couple is paying their first official visit to the town of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, where they are scheduled to view traditional shinty matches, visit a community-owned pub, and review local environmental protection efforts.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry is making his first major public appearance since his latest return to the United Kingdom. The Duke of Sussex is attending the inaugural Invictus awards ceremony, an event organized to honor the service, resilience, and unconquered spirit of injured and wounded military personnel.