In an unprecedented move, Buckingham Palace has issued a response after Earl Spencer made claims about the behaviour of King Charles at one of the most difficult moments of their lives.
In his new book, Swan Song, Earl Spencer writes of the aftermath of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. He describes a telephone call with Charles in the early days of September 1997 which he says the man who is now king became angry and ended up blurting out that ”Diana will soon be forgotten’.
The claim came to light as the book was serialised in the Daily Mail ahead of its publication on September 22.
Almost as soon as the serialisation was published, Buckingham Palace took the rare step of responding to a claim in a book.
In a statement, the Palace said that ”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 judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.”
The extraordinary comment was seen as an immediate and forthright clapback to the comment made in the book.
Earl Spencer made no immediate reply.
His book had already hit the headlines after four copies of it were reported stolen from a lorry transporting thousands of editions from a publishing plant in central Europe. The four copies, each wrapped in black plastic to keep them secret, were taken from a lorry while its driver slept while parked in the countryside in the Netherlands. Dutch police are investigating.
Earl Spencer’s book is a reflection on the last years of the life of his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales and he says it’s another attempt to tell her story through her own persepctive.
The earl caused shockwaves around the world with his eulogy at Diana’s funeral in which he talked of her being hunted and vowed to look after her two children. It was greeted by an immediate round of applause inside and outside Westminster Abbey.
It’s the second time in just a week that King Charles has surprised with the forthright nature of his responses to situations.
Just days ago, the Lord Chamberlain sent a letter to all those involved in organising royal engagements to say that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain private citizens and do not represent the Royal Family. He also added that their HRHs were in abeyance and that the terms of the Sandringham agreement remain in place.
The letter was sent after a number of enquiries were addressed to Buckingham Palace.
