Royal commentators question King Charles' swift response to Earl Spencer's memoir claims

Royal commentators have criticised the speed and tone of Buckingham Palace’s statement after the 9th Earl of Spencer released excerpts from his forthcoming memoir, which allege that King Charles made casual remarks about Princess Diana’s death. The palace said the Earl’s recollection could be influenced by the grief surrounding Diana’s passing, noting 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.”

Editor Richard Eden, writing for The Daily Mail, called the palace’s reaction “terribly misguided” and “a terrible mistake,” arguing that a public reply was unnecessary and poorly timed. Rebecca English, a royal editor, said she was undecided about whether the leadership had made the right call.

Spencer’s memoir, titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, recounts a conversation in which he says Charles told him “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough,” a comment he described as “oddly casual” for such serious news. In a press release, Spencer said he wrote the book to present his sister’s story from his perspective and to reach younger generations who never met her.

Sources reported that Prince Harry was aware of the memoir’s content after a July visit to the Spencer family estate, where he and his family paid respects at Diana’s burial site. The publication has also drawn criticism of Spencer himself, with some observers accusing him of hypocrisy for criticizing the king while his own past relationships have been controversial.