Prince Harry was reportedly given advance warning about Earl Spencer’s explosive new memoir, even though the Duke had not seen a copy of the book before its publication.
The claims come as Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, 62, finds himself at the centre of a growing war of words with King Charles over allegations contained in his forthcoming book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
According to reports, Harry knew the memoir was being released but was not shown its contents in advance.
Other sources have disputed that account, claiming that Harry, Prince William and the Palace were unaware of what Spencer had written.
The conflicting reports have added another layer to an already sensitive family dispute.
Earl Spencer’s Extraordinary Claim About Diana’s Death
One of the most striking allegations in the memoir concerns a phone call between Charles Spencer and the then-Prince Charles following Diana’s death in Paris in 1997.
Spencer recalls that the phone at Althorp was ringing constantly as people called to offer their condolences.
But he claims Charles sounded completely different from the other callers.
“Unlike my other callers, who were stunned, barely able to articulate their condolences and offers of help, he sounded giddily elated – like a lottery winner, I remember thinking at the time,” Spencer wrote.
He also alleged that Charles sounded “strangely matter-of-fact, given the enormity of the disaster.”
The claims have prompted a strong response from royal sources, who insist that the behaviour described in the memoir is inconsistent with the King’s character.
Friends of Charles reportedly said that such language about Diana was “just not in the King’s nature.”
Palace Responds to the Memoir Claims
Buckingham Palace has traditionally avoided commenting on books about members of the Royal Family.
However, a Royal spokesman issued an unusually pointed response to the allegations.
“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 spokesman said.
The wording echoes the late Queen Elizabeth II’s famous response to claims made by Harry and Meghan during their 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, when the Palace said that “recollections may vary.”
The Explosive Dispute Over Diana’s Funeral
Another major section of Spencer’s memoir reportedly focuses on an argument over whether the teenage William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin at her funeral in September 1997.
According to Spencer, a senior Palace aide told him that the two young princes would take part in the procession.
His response was reportedly blunt: “That’s not going to happen.”
Spencer says Charles called him shortly afterwards, with the conversation turning into a heated dispute over duty and the role the young princes should play.
The then-Prince of Wales reportedly referred to his own experience of walking behind the coffin at his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten’s funeral in 1979.
But Spencer argued that the circumstances were different and suggested Diana would not have wanted her sons to endure such a public ordeal.
He claims Charles “went nuts” after Spencer pointed out that he had been 30 years old when he attended Mountbatten’s funeral.
William was 15 and Harry was 12 at the time of their mother’s funeral.
The alleged confrontation threatens to reopen memories of the bitter breakdown in the relationship between Charles and Diana, whose marriage had ended in divorce before her death.
Harry Recently Stayed With His Uncle
The latest revelations are particularly striking given Harry’s recent contact with Spencer.
The Duke stayed at his uncle’s Althorp estate in July this year.
Harry also later visited Diana’s final resting place on the Northamptonshire estate with Meghan, Archie and Lilibet before the family returned to the UK.
Meghan shared an image of their walk to Diana’s grave, offering a glimpse of the family’s visit to the place where the late Princess was laid to rest.
Harry has therefore remained in contact with Spencer despite the extraordinary allegations now emerging from the memoir.
More Claims About Charles and Diana
The memoir reportedly contains several other controversial claims about Diana’s relationship with Charles.
Among them are allegations that Charles said he did not love Diana before their wedding and that he referred to her as “chubby.”
Spencer’s account is being published three decades after he delivered his emotional and defiant eulogy at Diana’s funeral.
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is due to be published in the UK next Tuesday and will be translated into 12 languages.
Royal Family Puts on a United Front
Despite the controversy surrounding the memoir, Charles appeared in good spirits during a visit to Dumfries House in Scotland, where he met with leaders working in artificial intelligence.
The engagement took place at the headquarters of The King’s Foundation as the Palace sought to maintain the King’s public schedule amid the dispute.
Elsewhere, the Prince and Princess of Wales appeared all smiles when they arrived on the Isle of Bute to celebrate the Scottish island’s community.
Princess Anne, meanwhile, visited Cannock Chase War Cemetery in Staffordshire to mark the refurbishment and development of its new History Centre.
The public appearances came as the latest revelations about Diana, Charles and the events surrounding her death threatened to reopen some of the most painful chapters in the modern history of the Royal Family.