Earl Spencer's Diana book opens old wounds royals would rather forget

The legacy of Princess Diana's tragic death continues to be a painful wound for the Royal Family, as revealed in her brother Earl Spencer's unfiltered memoir. Almost three decades later, Buckingham Palace's sharp response to allegations of the Prince of Wales's cold response to Diana's passing demonstrates the enduring significance of this event.

In the summer of 1997, the Royal Family appeared out of touch and lacking in empathy for Diana's loss, risking public disapproval as protests of flowers besieged their palaces. Amidst their own private grief, the royals faced a reputational disaster, at risk of becoming the focus of public dismay over the sudden death of the "People's Princess" in a Paris car crash.

Royal author Valentine Low vividly recalls the public response to Earl Spencer's electrifying speech at Diana's funeral, where people inside Westminster Abbey began applauding in response to the noise outside. The volatile public mood following Diana's death saw the late Queen Elizabeth II deliver a live televised address, paying tribute to the princess and acknowledging the difficulty of expressing grief.

The late Queen noted that while everyone was coping in their own ways, it is not easy to articulate a sense of loss, which often follows initial shock with disbelief, incomprehension, anger, and concern for those remaining. The family disputes and tensions that emerged in the wake of Diana's death continue to be aired in Earl Spencer's book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, as well as in global news coverage, reopening old questions about King Charles's character, his treatment of Diana, and his relationship with the now Queen Camilla.

Earl Spencer alleges that during a conversation with Prince Charles, the prince expressed that they would soon "forget" about Diana, describing him as sounding "giddily elated" and "like a lottery winner" after the news of her death. Buckingham Palace responded, denying the conversation ever took place. A recent YouGov poll found that opinions on who to believe are split, with 31% supporting Earl Spencer's account, 36% doubting its accuracy, and 33% undecided.

Experts suggest that memories can be distorted during traumatic events, and feelings can run high, leading to different interpretations of the same conversations.