Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, has claimed in a new book that the then-Prince of Wales appeared upbeat following the death of his ex-wife in 1997. According to Spencer, the current King Charles III sounded "giddily elated" during a conversation shortly after Diana died in a Paris car crash.
The claims appear in Spencer’s upcoming book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," which is scheduled for release next week. The book arrives nearly three decades after the royal couple's divorce and Diana's subsequent death at the age of 36. Spencer stated in a television interview that he was reporting his observations rather than offering a criticism or justification.
In the book, Spencer suggests that the Prince’s demeanor may have been linked to a sense of freedom to pursue a relationship with Camilla, now Queen Camilla. The book also alleges that Charles told Diana he did not love her prior to their 1981 wedding and claims that Diana experienced thoughts of suicide on multiple occasions.
Buckingham Palace issued a statement earlier this week in response to an initial excerpt which claimed the King said Diana would be forgotten shortly before her funeral. The palace stated that the monarch would not comment directly on the book but noted that "fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory" over time. A royal commentator suggested the palace must now decide whether to respond to each subsequent claim or maintain their initial statement as a definitive response.
For the British public, these claims revive scrutiny of the King’s personal life and his marriage to Queen Camilla. The media serialization of the book ensures the allegations will remain a focus of news cycles leading up to the book's release. Members of the public interviewed outside Buckingham Palace expressed a range of views, with some maintaining loyalty to the monarch while others questioned the necessity of revisiting these events.
The knock-on effects include a potential shift in the palace's communication strategy, as a royal commentator said royal aides are forced into "fight mode." The publication sets a precedent for how the palace handles memoirs from immediate family members of the late Princess Diana. The book is set to hit shelves next week, with further excerpts expected to be published in the days leading up to the official release date. The palace has not issued further comments regarding the latest specific allegations.