Buckingham Palace pushes back on Earl Spencer’s new book on Princess Diana
The Palace has responded to fresh allegations of coldness from King Charles III, a move that coincides with the monarch’s upcoming high-level meeting with global artificial intelligence leaders in Scotland.
Buckingham Palace has issued a pointed response to new criticisms levelled by Earl Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, regarding King Charles III’s conduct in the immediate aftermath of his wife’s death in 1997. The dispute centres on Spencer’s new book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," which is currently being serialised in the Daily Mail and is scheduled for full publication next week.
In the text, Spencer alleges that the King subjected him to a "stream of anger" and "pent-up contempt" following an objection he raised about Princes William and Harry walking in their mother’s funeral procession. Spencer claims that during a phone call days after the tragedy, Charles told him: "rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough."
A palace spokesperson responded late on Wednesday, noting that while the institution does 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. This official rebuttal highlights the enduring tension between the Spencer and Windsor families, a dynamic that has long been a feature of the British press and popular media.
The timing of the dispute is notable, as it coincides with King Charles’s upcoming engagement in Scotland to meet with executives from major artificial intelligence firms, including Nvidia, Google DeepMind, OpenAI, and Anthropic. The meeting, held at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, is viewed as a crucial moment for the industry, with the King expected to urge leaders to ensure technology remains in the service of humanity and the natural world.
Also attending the event are Britain’s Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Kanishka Narayan, and Paolo Benanti, an adviser to Pope Leo XIV. Narayan was recently promoted to a bespoke ministerial role by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, underscoring the growing institutional focus on AI governance.
The King and Queen Consort Camilla have been staying at Balmoral Castle in Scotland for most of September, attending a series of appointments. The current clash with Earl Spencer serves as a reminder of the public scrutiny the monarchy faces, particularly regarding its historical response to Diana’s death and its current role in shaping emerging technological policy.
