KEY POINT
- Earl Spencer claims King Charles made the remark about Diana in the days following her death in 1997.
- He says William and Harry would not be surprised by the account nearly three decades later.
- Buckingham Palace said grief can affect judgment and memory, without directly addressing the specific claim.
Earl Spencer, the brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, has said Princes William and Harry would not be surprised by his account of remarks he claims King Charles made shortly after their mother’s death.
Speaking to BBC interviewer Laura Kuenssberg, Spencer was asked how his nephews might react to the disclosure so many years after Diana died. He replied: “This will not be a surprise to them, I’ll tell you that.”
Spencer says the alleged exchange took place in the aftermath of Diana’s death in 1997. His account centers on a remark he attributes to Charles concerning whether Diana would eventually be forgotten.
The claim is now part of Spencer’s wider account of the period surrounding Diana’s death and funeral. He said the issue was significant enough to explain why a related line appeared in the eulogy he delivered for his sister.
Spencer also presented his writing as an attempt to record events he personally witnessed rather than as an attack on the King. He described himself as “an eye witness to history” and referred to his own age and the deaths of both his parents in their 60s as reasons for putting his recollections on record.
Spencer said there are other things he knows about King Charles that he deliberately left out because he considered them unrelated to the subject of his book. He added that mentioning this was “not a threat”, but a statement of fact.
His comments place particular emphasis on the distinction between what he personally remembers and what he believes is relevant to his account of Diana.Buckingham Palace responded to the claims without directly addressing the specific words Spencer attributes to King Charles.
A Palace spokesperson said: “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.”
The statement therefore presents the Palace’s position as a caution about how grief can influence recollection, while Spencer continues to stand by his account.
The disagreement centers on a historical recollection involving Diana’s death and the events surrounding her funeral. Spencer’s comments also bring the account directly into the context of William and Harry, whom he says would already be familiar with the substance of his claims.
Spencer has publicly defended his recollection, while Buckingham Palace has responded by highlighting the possible effects of long-term grief on memory and judgment.
Source: BBC interview with Laura Kuenssberg; Buckingham Palace statement.
