Startling Allegations About the Night of Princess Diana’s Death
Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer and younger brother of the late Princess Diana, has ignited a fresh storm around the British Royal Family through startling claims published in serialization extracts of his new book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister. Spencer alleges that following the tragic car crash in Paris in 1997 that took Diana’s life, the reaction within royal quarters was shockingly cold. According to Spencer, during a heated telephone conversation shortly after her passing, King Charles III (then the Prince of Wales) sounded “giddily elated — like a lottery winner.” Spencer further claims that during the same conversation, Charles unleashed a barrage of pent-up anger and contempt regarding Diana’s massive global popularity, allegedly hissing: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!” Spencer also writes that several officials inside Buckingham Palace felt “relieved — indeed pleased” that the former Princess of Wales was gone.
Controversy Surrounding Funeral Procession and Young Princes
Beyond his allegations regarding Charles’s verbal responses, Earl Spencer revisits the emotional arrangements made for Princess Diana’s televised funeral, which was watched by billions across the world. Spencer reveals that he strongly objected to the Palace’s plan forcing a 15-year-old Prince William and a 12-year-old Prince Harry to walk behind their mother’s coffin during the procession. Spencer felt that placing young grieving children under intense international media scrutiny was deeply traumatic and unnecessary. In his memoir, Spencer asserts his belief that royal aides utilized the young princes as a physical “protective shield” for Charles. Palace strategists allegedly feared that angry crowds might shout abuse at Charles during the funeral, whereas walking alongside the mourning sons would guarantee that no insults or hostility were hurled at him.
Revelations on Diana’s Mental Health and ADHD Diagnosis
In another deeply personal section of his book, Spencer opens up about Princess Diana’s psychological struggles during her tumultuous life under the spotlight. He writes that he believes his sister suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental condition that went largely unrecognized during her lifetime. Spencer adds that as a manifestation of ADHD, Diana suffered from Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)—a psychological condition characterized by intense emotional pain when facing perceived criticism, rejection, or abandonment by others. This revelation sheds new light on Diana’s complex emotional landscape and her volatile relationship with the royal establishment, which frequently misunderstood her vulnerability and intense public magnetism.
Buckingham Palace Delivers Rare and Firm Response
In an unusual departure from its long-standing PR stance of “Never complain, never explain,” Buckingham Palace issued a swift and rare public rebuttal regarding Spencer’s serialized claims. Rather than maintaining absolute silence, as was done following Prince Harry’s controversial 2023 memoir Spare, a royal spokesperson released an official statement addressing Spencer’s book. The statement noted: “While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment, and color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss.” Royal commentators noted that the wording echoes Queen Elizabeth II’s famous 2021 response that “some recollections may vary,” signaling deep palace frustration while attempting to frame Spencer’s recollections as distorted by personal grief.
