New book by Charles Spencer sparks royal controversy

Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, is set to release a new book titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister on September 22. The work offers a personal account of his sister’s life and her marriage to the current King Charles. Spencer, 62, has stated that he authored the book out of a sense of duty, describing himself as an eyewitness to history regarding the events surrounding his sister’s life and death.

In excerpts released ahead of the publication, Spencer claims that King Charles was “giddily elated” following the death of Princess Diana in 1997. This assertion has prompted a direct response from Buckingham Palace. In an unusually strong statement, the Palace rejected Spencer’s version of events, suggesting that the experience of fraternal grief may have clouded his judgment and colored his memory of the period.

Spencer, who was born into an aristocratic family with long-standing ties to the British monarchy, was 17 years old when his sister married the then-Prince Charles in 1981. His godmother was the late Queen Elizabeth II. While he has previously authored several books focusing on 17th-century British history, this latest project marks a shift toward his own family history.

The upcoming release has drawn significant attention due to the sensitive nature of the claims made regarding the royal family. While Spencer maintains that his account is a necessary historical record, the public disagreement between him and Buckingham Palace has intensified the anticipation surrounding the book's launch.