Charles Spencer raises a compelling question about the enduring fascination with his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales, who remains a subject of global interest nearly three decades after her passing. His latest book, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” is set to stir old controversies upon its release by Penguin Press.
Spencer recounts a troubling interaction with Diana’s former husband, now King Charles, shortly after her death. According to Spencer, Charles remarked casually about forgetting Diana, which left Spencer in disbelief.
Diana’s story is well-known: an aristocratic Englishwoman who became the youngest bride to the then-Prince Charles. Their fairy-tale wedding soon soured, leading to a highly publicized divorce before her untimely death in a car crash in Paris.
Spencer felt compelled to write his own account of Diana’s life, given the continued interest as the 30th anniversary of her death approaches. He critiques the British establishment’s failure to appreciate Diana’s unique impact, citing attempts by what she called the “men in gray suits” to contain her influence.
“I think people who criticized her didn’t understand her true force,” Spencer asserts.
As the 9th Earl Spencer, Charles acknowledges the contrast between his family’s traditional loyalty to the crown and the challenges posed by Diana’s modernity. He reflects on how Diana failed to fit into the expected royal mold, hinting at jealousy within the royal circle.
Spencer shares a memory from Diana’s early official tour in Australia, where public adulation for her surpassed that for Charles, an issue compounded by Charles’s ongoing relationship with Camilla, now Queen.
The book does not portray King Charles favorably. Spencer recalls Charles’s seemingly upbeat demeanor following Diana’s death, suggesting freedom to reunite with Camilla may have been a factor. The palace’s response insinuates Spencer’s grief might affect his recollections.
Spencer criticizes the decision to have Diana’s sons walk behind her coffin at the funeral, describing it as barbaric. He was led to believe the boys wanted this, a notion he contends was false, and speculates it aimed to shield Charles from public jeers.
Though he refrains from discussing private conversations with nephews William and Harry, Spencer acknowledges knowing the truth of the situation from multiple perspectives. He ponders whether a more compassionate handling of Harry’s grief could have alleviated current familial strains.
Spencer concludes by imagining a different potential future where Diana would have served as a remarkable queen, greatly benefiting Britain.