'Charles Spencer may fight back,' says expert after Buckingham Palace statement on Diana book

Buckingham Palace reacted to claims in Earl Spencer's book about Princess Diana when the Daily Mail published the first preview of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, the memoir by Charles Spencer.

In the book set for release on 22 September, Spencer recounts a phone conversation with the then Prince Charles after Diana's death on 31 August 1997.

Spencer wrote of the heated exchange, "Prince Charles continued his stream of anger, without me interrupting. Then he stopped”. ”I assumed the pause signalled an effort to bring himself under control, but then he unleashed down the phone what I have always taken to be his pent-up contempt for Diana, and his horror that the world was so bowled over by her death.”

“'Rest assured,' he hissed, 'we'll forget her soon enough.’"

A statement from a palace spokesperson released shortly after the story went live read, ”While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.”

Commenting on the drama, British media personality David Yelland wrote, “This is a real crisis at the Palace, the King’s PR team can’t be sure his extraordinary statement will carry the country. Charles Spencer may fight back - creating a real moment of jeopardy for the King. He appears to have parked his tank at the Daily Mail, which has serialised his book and will defend their man. There are so many ironies here and the next few days will be critical.”