Full Breakdown
Earl Spencer Accuses King Charles of Gaslighting Over Diana Memoir
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer and brother of Princess Diana, alleges King Charles III “gaslit” him by saying, “we’ll forget her soon enough” after Diana’s death. The claim appears in Spencer’s forthcoming memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, due September 22. In a BBC interview ahead of the launch, Spencer repeated the allegation and called the palace’s response “monstrous,” also likening media treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to the press’s handling of Diana.
Background & Context
The memoir follows excerpts serialized in the *Daily Mail* that portray Charles as “giddily elated” after Diana’s death and suggest a heated phone argument over whether Princes William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin. The dispute revives earlier tensions between Spencer and the royal household, including Spencer’s criticism of Charles’s past comments about Diana.
Timeline
- 31 August 1997 – Spencer says he learned of Diana’s death.
- 6 September 1997 – Diana’s funeral; Spencer walked behind the coffin with William and Harry.
- 26 August – Spencer tells the BBC he informed close friends and family “straight away” about the alleged royal comment.
- 17 September – Advance copies of the memoir become available.
- 22 September – Scheduled public release of Swan Song.
Official Statements & Responses
Criticism & Opposition
Former Tory MP Rory Stewart, who tutored William and Harry, said he “simply cannot believe” the King made the alleged remark, describing it as “not his character.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Spencer claims he heard the exact phrase during a phone call with the then-Prince of Wales and shared the account immediately. The palace’s statement neither confirms nor denies the wording, suggesting grief may affect memory. No independent evidence (recordings or contemporaneous notes) has been presented, leaving the factual accuracy of the alleged comment unresolved.
Verbatim Quote
- “It is not every day you wake up to find you’ve been gaslit by the king.” — Earl Spencer
What’s Next
The memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister will be released worldwide on September 22, likely prompting renewed media scrutiny of the Spencer-Charles dispute and Spencer’s broader commentary on the royal family’s handling of Diana’s legacy.