Charles Spencer says he declined Queen's offer to restore Diana's HRH title
In his memoir, Diana’s brother Charles Spencer recounts that Queen Elizabeth offered to reinstate Diana’s HRH title after her death, an offer he rejected, saying it would be a hollow gesture.
Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, wrote in his forthcoming memoir that Queen Elizabeth II proposed restoring Diana’s "Her Royal Highness" title after her death. Spencer said the suggestion was relayed to him by Robert Fellowes, the queen’s former private secretary and his brother-in-law, while Spencer was traveling with Diana’s coffin to the family estate at Althorp.
Spencer recalled questioning what Diana would have wanted, noting that the title had been removed following her 1996 divorce and that she had been deeply hurt by that decision. He explained that he responded internally that the offer, though well-intentioned, would amount to a "consolation prize" and would not change the past.
The historian added that he believed the title should never have been taken away while Diana was alive, and that any posthumous restoration would be symbolic at best.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the book but issued a statement saying that grief can affect judgment and memory. A spokesperson for Prince Harry also declined to answer questions about the memoir.