Charles Spencer offered a candid take on the difficulties of marrying into the British royal family. Princess Diana’s younger brother said outsiders faced a tougher adjustment than people raised within the monarchy.
Spencer made the comments during an on-stage conversation with royal biographer Tina Brown in New York City. The Sept. 29 discussion centered on his new memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, and Diana’s experience inside the royal family.
Charles Spencer says women who married into the royal family have a ‘tough’ time navigating monarchy
As per PEOPLE, Brown asked whether modern people could remain themselves inside what she called the “cage of the monarchy.” Spencer said some people endured it, but those raised royal had an advantage.
“I think if you grow up in a royal family, it’s a lot easier than marrying into it,” Spencer said during the conversation. He continued, “If you look at the wives of those who’ve married in, it’s tough. It’s a way of thinking that is very specific.”
Neither Meghan Markle nor Kate Middleton came up by name during the exchange. Brown had previously criticized Meghan, who married Spencer’s nephew, Prince Harry, in 2018. Brown said on The Ankler podcast that Meghan “has the worst judgment of anyone in the entire world.” She also called her “flawless about getting it all wrong,” while discussing the Duchess of Sussex.
His memoir had meanwhile sparked controversy over his recollection of a conversation with then-Prince Charles before Diana’s funeral. Spencer claimed Charles told him, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”
Buckingham Palace responded that grief could “cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory.” Spencer later defended his recollection during his New York conversation. “He had the opportunity to not say anything or to deny it, and he did neither,” Spencer said.
Brown agreed that the Palace had attributed his account to “fraternal grief.” Spencer replied, “Well, that’s called gaslighting,” drawing applause from the audience.
