Spencer’s Memoir Reignites Royal Rift Over Diana’s Legacy

Key points

• Charles Spencer’s memoir, 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,' was released in September 2026, nearly 30 years after Princess Diana’s death in 1997.
• The book alleges that then-Prince Charles sounded 'giddily elated' after Diana’s death and later told Spencer, 'Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.'
• Buckingham Palace has dismissed these claims as distortions caused by 'fraternal grief,' while Spencer maintains his account is a factual record of his personal experience.
• Spencer details Diana’s struggles with eating disorders, which he links to a comment Charles made about her weight before their marriage, and her eventual divorce.
• The book offers a personal counter-narrative to official royal histories, emphasizing Diana’s resilience and the royal family’s coldness toward her.

Background

Charles Spencer’s memoir, 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,' was released in September 2026, nearly 30 years after Princess Diana’s death in 1997. The book has reignited a bitter feud with King Charles III, who has dismissed Spencer’s claims as distortions caused by grief. Spencer’s account offers a personal counter-narrative to official royal histories, emphasizing Diana’s resilience and the royal family’s coldness toward her. The book also details Diana’s struggles with eating disorders and her eventual divorce, providing a new perspective on her life and legacy.

How outlets are covering it

The Washington Post and The New York Times present Spencer’s memoir as a significant, if controversial, addition to the historical record of Princess Diana’s life. The Post emphasizes the book’s 'semi-explosive revelations' and its portrayal of Charles as a 'bellowing buffoon,' while the NYT highlights the book’s focus on Diana’s bravery and the personal nature of Spencer’s account. The Guardian, in a satirical 'digested' review, mocks Spencer’s self-aggrandizement and the book’s tendency to blur the line between memoir and biography, while also acknowledging the book’s value in providing a personal perspective on Diana’s life. Tina Brown’s 'Fresh Hell' offers a more nuanced view, acknowledging the book’s value in providing a personal perspective while also questioning the reliability of memory and the potential for bias in Spencer’s account. Brown argues that while Spencer’s account is persuasive, it is also colored by his own grief and personal experiences, and that the book’s value lies in its ability to provide a new perspective on Diana’s life and legacy, rather than in its absolute factual accuracy.

Why it matters

The release of Charles Spencer’s memoir, 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,' has reignited a bitter feud with King Charles III and sparked a debate over the reliability of memory versus official denials. The book’s allegations of Charles’s callous reaction to Diana’s death have drawn sharp criticism from the palace and have raised questions about the accuracy of Spencer’s account. The book’s release also highlights the ongoing tension between the royal family and the public, and the importance of personal narratives in shaping historical understanding. The book’s value lies in its ability to provide a new perspective on Diana’s life and legacy, and in its ability to challenge official royal histories and provide a counter-narrative to the public record.

What to watch

The release of Charles Spencer’s memoir, 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,' is likely to spark further debate over the reliability of memory versus official denials, and the ongoing tension between the royal family and the public. The book’s allegations of Charles’s callous reaction to Diana’s death are likely to draw further criticism from the palace and raise questions about the accuracy of Spencer’s account. The book’s release is also likely to highlight the importance of personal narratives in shaping historical understanding, and the value of challenging official royal histories and providing a counter-narrative to the public record. The book’s release is also likely to spark further debate over the ongoing tension between the royal family and the public, and the importance of personal narratives in shaping historical understanding.