Buckingham Palace hits back at claims in a book by Princess Diana’s brother

Buckingham Palace has vehemently refuted allegations made in a book penned by the late Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer. The book, titled "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," was scheduled for release next week. Spencer alleges that King Charles III told him, after Diana's tragic car accident death in 1997 at the age of 36, that she would soon be forgotten.

He claims the then-Prince Charles expressed contempt for his ex-wife during a dispute over palace arrangements for Prince William and Prince Harry to participate in the funeral procession behind Diana's coffin. According to Spencer, Charles reportedly said to him, "rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough." In its response, Buckingham Palace maintained a measured stance, reflecting the typical restraint of the royal household.

The statement acknowledged that the grief of being a brother to the late Princess might cloud judgment and memory. Buckingham Palace noted that His Majesty is sensitive to the fact that the pain of fraternal grief can affect one's perception even years after such a loss. The tension between the palace and Diana's aristocratic Spencer relatives has been a long-standing issue, previously portrayed in films like "The Queen" and TV series "The Crown."

These tensions were further highlighted in the aftermath of Diana's death, when the royals initially struggled to acknowledge the global outpouring of grief, a revelation that showcased the common touch Diana had with ordinary people that was often missed by the rest of the royal family.