Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Earl Spencer Revives Dispute Over Charles’s Words After Diana’s Death
Charles Spencer is Diana, Princess of Wales’s younger brother.
He is also the uncle of Princes William and Harry.
Spencer grew up with Diana at the Althorp estate in Northamptonshire.
He became Earl Spencer after his father died in 1992.
He later worked as a television reporter and wrote history books.
His new memoir discusses Diana’s life, death and funeral.
Spencer says he objected to William and Harry walking behind their mother’s coffin.
He also says the then-Prince Charles told him, “we’ll forget her soon enough.”
Buckingham Palace disputes this memory, but Spencer says he remembers the conversation clearly.
Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, is Diana, Princess of Wales’s younger brother.
Spencer inherited the earldom in 1992 after the death of his father, John Spencer.
His forthcoming memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is scheduled for publication on 22 September 2026.
Spencer claims the then-Prince Charles told him, “we’ll forget her soon enough,” after Diana’s death.
Buckingham Palace rejected the account, while Spencer continues to stand by his recollection.
- Who
- Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, Diana’s younger brother, and the then-Prince Charles are central to the dispute.
- What
- Spencer’s forthcoming memoir revisits Diana’s life and death and claims Charles said, “we’ll forget her soon enough.”
- When
- The dispute concerns events after Diana’s death in August 1997; the memoir is due on 22 September 2026.
- Where
- The account concerns events surrounding Diana’s death and funeral, including a telephone conversation; Diana died in Paris and her funeral was held at Westminster Abbey.
- Why
- Spencer is receiving renewed attention because his memoir contains disputed claims about the royal family’s response to Diana’s death.
Spencer’s Account
Palace Response
What Charles allegedly said
Spencer’s Account
Charles Spencer says the then-Prince Charles told him, “we’ll forget her soon enough,” after Diana’s death.
Palace Response
Buckingham Palace rejected Spencer’s account and suggested that grief may affect memory and judgement.
The funeral procession
Spencer’s Account
Spencer says he objected to William and Harry, then aged 15 and 12, walking behind their mother’s coffin because he believed Diana would not have wanted it.
Palace Response
The account presented in the article does not provide a separate detailed response from the royal family about the decision to have William and Harry walk behind the coffin.
- Full title
- Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
- Relationship to Diana
- Younger brother of Diana, Princess of Wales
- Relationship to William and Harry
- Maternal uncle of Prince William and Prince Harry
- Memoir
- Swan Song: Diana, My Sister
- Publication date
- 22 September 2026
- Disputed claim
- Spencer says the then-Prince Charles said, “we’ll forget her soon enough.”
- Palace response
- Buckingham Palace rejected the account and pointed to the possibility that grief can affect memory and judgement.