{
  "id": 8129093,
  "title": "Charles ‘sounded giddily elated’ after Diana died, Earl Spencer claims",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/charles-sounded-giddily-elated-after-diana-died-earl-spencer-claims-8129093",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-17T23:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/charles-sounded-giddily-elated-after-diana-died-earl-spencer-claims/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Earl Spencer, Diana's brother, asserts that King Charles expressed \"giddily elated\" excitement upon learning of her passing in 1997, according to a forthcoming book. The royal family's spokesperson dismissed the claims, stating the King is aware that grief can cloud one's judgment and memory. Earl Spencer's memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, details personal recollections of the family's emotional turmoil around their sister's death, 30 years ago. The book alleges Charles initially informed him and Princes William and Harry of Diana's death before they were told by others. Earl Spencer also claims his sister suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, which may have contributed to the couple's troubled marriage.",
  "summary": "Earl Spencer, brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, has claimed King Charles \"sounded giddily elated\" when he called him after her death in 1997.",
  "key_points": [
    "Earl Spencer says King Charles was \"giddily elated\" after Diana's 1997 death",
    "Royal family spokesperson denies Charles' alleged excitement",
    "Spencer's memoir reveals family's emotional turmoil over sister's death"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Charles 'sounded giddily elated' after Diana died, Earl Spencer claims",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/charles-sounded-giddily-elated-after-diana-died-earl-spencer-claims",
        "published": "2026-09-17T18:56:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "‘Like a lottery winner’: Charles ‘elated’ after Diana’s death, her brother’s new book claims",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/like-a-lottery-winner-charles-elated-after-dianas-death-her-brothers",
        "published": "2026-09-17T20:02:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "‘Like a lottery winner’: Charles ‘elated’ after Diana’s death, her brother’s new book claims",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/like-a-lottery-winner-charles-elated-after-dianas-death-her-brothers-8091928",
        "published": "2026-09-17T20:02:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}