Buckingham Palace issued a statement late Wednesday, September 16, 2026, regarding allegations made by Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, concerning comments reportedly made by King Charles III following her death. In a forthcoming book, Spencer claims that the then-Prince of Wales suggested Diana would be "forgotten" shortly after she died in a 1997 car crash. The palace statement said that "the pain of fraternal grief" can affect judgment and "color memory" in ways others do not recognize.
The dispute centers on events surrounding the 1997 funeral of Princess Diana. Spencer alleges that during a disagreement over whether Prince William and Prince Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin, the then-Prince Charles said, "Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough." Spencer also characterizes the then-Prince's demeanor at the time as "elated" and claims he held "contempt" for his former wife.
The allegations are detailed in Spencer’s book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," which is scheduled for release next week. The Daily Mail has begun publishing extracts from the text. In response, Buckingham Palace broke its general principle of not commenting on books, stating that while His Majesty is mindful of Spencer's loss, grief may have "clouded reason" and "colored memory."
The scale of the conflict is reflected in the palace's direct response. Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, noted that the wording was uniquely "stark" for royal communications. The disagreement revisits a period involving two princes, William and Harry, who were 15 and 12 at the time of the funeral. The narrative provided by Spencer challenges the history of how the royal family managed the aftermath of Diana's death.
A person following these developments would notice a shift in the communication style of Buckingham Palace. The immediate impact is a public debate over the accuracy of accounts related to the King's private comments. What happens next depends on the full release of Spencer’s book next week and any potential further responses from the palace or other members of the royal family. No specific court dates or legislative actions are tied to this matter, as it remains a dispute over historical accounts and personal memoirs.