Memoir by Princess Diana's brother flies off the shelves

London: Copies of a memoir penned by Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, selling like hotcakes on Tuesday following readers' fascination with allegations about the late princess's strained marriage to the now-king. Charles, a eulogist at her 1997 funeral, has ignited global headlines with his book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," which accuses Prince Charles of sounding elated after her death, painting him as a "lottery winner."

Buckingham Palace swiftly responded, arguing the king was mindful of the pain of fraternal grief potentially clouding his judgment and memory. The book's release in Britain has dominated newspaper front pages for a week, with pre-released excerpts fueling its surge to the top of Amazon's bestseller list. Outside a central London bookshop, 71-year-old Chris Imafidon bought a copy, intrigued by the allegations, though he considered them unconvincing.

"There's a desire to protect your sister," he mused. For others, Diana remains an icon, with 29-year-old memories of her car crash tragedy still sparking interest. Writing the memoir, Spencer aimed to set the record straight and fulfill his duty as an eyewitness to history. He claimed Charles sounded "giddily elated" at Diana's demise, suspecting his initial reaction might have been more about potential freedom to marry Camilla Parker Bowles, his future wife, rather than mourning his sister.

Diana and Charles were married for 15 years, had two children, but their relationship deteriorated, leading to their divorce in 1996. Their marriage had already been strained by Charles' affair with Camilla, whom he wed in 2005. Spencer describes his book as an intimate, honest portrayal of his sister, who he celebrated as a global icon.