Buckingham Palace rejects Earl Spencer claim Charles said ‘we’ll forget Diana’
The allegation appears in the earl’s memoir, while the palace says grief can cloud reason.
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The royal household faced a fresh allegation on 29 July 2026 when Earl Spencer, Diana’s brother, claimed in his book that the king said, “we’ll forget her soon enough” following Diana’s death in 1997. The comment was said to have been made directly to Spencer during a private conversation.
Spencer’s memoir and the specific allegation
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Spencer’s memoir, titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, recounts the alleged remark and describes a period of tension in which the prince expressed anger when Spencer suggested Diana would not have wanted her sons to walk in the funeral procession. The book was serialised in a national newspaper before its release.
“the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason”
Buckingham Palace, as reported by The Standard
Buckingham Palace responded the same day, issuing a statement that rejected the claim outright. The palace said the alleged words were not spoken and added that “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason”, implying that any such comment would be a product of misunderstanding rather than fact.
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Context of the royal timeline
Charles and Diana announced their engagement in 1981 and married at St Paul’s Cathedral on 29 July 1981. Their first child, Prince William, was born on 21 June 1982. The couple’s marriage later dissolved, but the events surrounding Diana’s death continue to generate public interest and occasional new claims.
No further comment from the royal household is expected, and legal counsel for the palace confirmed that the statement is intended to close the matter publicly. Spencer has not indicated any intention to pursue legal action, and the memoir remains on sale.
The episode underscores how memoirs can revive historic controversies, prompting official bodies to issue clarifications. Residents and observers of the monarchy will likely see the palace’s denial as the definitive answer unless new evidence emerges.
Questions this report answers
+What did Earl Spencer claim Charles said after Diana’s death?
Spencer wrote that Charles told him they would soon forget Diana following her 1997 death. The claim appears in his memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, where he describes the remark as part of a tense exchange about the funeral procession.
+How did Buckingham Palace respond to the allegation?
The palace issued a statement rejecting the claim, saying the alleged words were not spoken. It added that “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason”, indicating that any such comment would be a misinterpretation of grief.
+When did Charles and Diana get married?
Charles and Diana were married on 29 July 1981 at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Their wedding followed an engagement announced earlier that year and was widely covered by the media.
+When was Prince William born?
Prince William was born on 21 June 1982 at St Mary’s Hospital in London. His birth was announced publicly and he was introduced to the press shortly after his arrival.
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