King Charles is at the center of a fresh royal storm amid the impending release of Princess Diana‘s memoir, penned by her brother. Now, a leading commentator warns about the fallout from Earl Spencer‘s upcoming memoir. Experts speculate the matter is far from over, and bitter questions may re-emerge, “but how true are they?”
Expert warns King Charles of more claims that will surface in near future from Diana memoir
The dispute between King Charles and Charles Spencer has escalated due to new excerpts from the biography of Princess Diana. The book alleges that Charles, then Prince of Wales, made a dismissive remark about Diana during a phone call over her funeral arrangements, reportedly saying: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”
In a rare move, Buckingham Palace has responded directly to the claims. A spokesperson for the Palace states that “fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss.”
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams called the row “particularly ghastly and unedifying” in comments to the Express. He criticized the timing of the allegations, calling it “quite extraordinary” that Earl Spencer would wait 29 years after his sister’s death to make such claims.
Fitzwilliams drew comparisons between the Palace’s statement and the past. In 2021, Queen Elizabeth II responded to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah, saying, “recollections may vary.” He observed that while the late Queen’s remark was brief, King Charles’s rebuttal was considerably more detailed. “This is a long statement. The King could not remain silent,” he said.
At the heart of the dispute lies the contested decision over whether Princes William and Harry, then 15 and 12, should walk behind their mother’s coffin during her funeral procession. Fitzwilliams noted this image “became part of national iconography, but it was always controversial too.”
He also suggested personal history may be shaping Earl Spencer’s motives. He points to the Earl’s role in introducing journalist Martin Bashir to Diana without verifying forged documents, which led to the famous 1995 Panorama interview. Fitzwilliams further speculated the memoir’s release may have been timed to coincide with the Sussexes’ move to the UK.
Looking ahead, Fitzwilliams cautioned that the controversy will likely continue, saying, “more explosive claims will undoubtedly surface.”
