Earl Spencer, Diana’s brother, has reignited a longstanding feud with King Charles over claims made in his new book about Diana’s death in 1997. In the book, Spencer alleges that Charles said they would forget Diana soon after her death, an allegation Buckingham Palace disputes, stating that grief can distort memory. The conflict is overshadowing Charles's planned engagement to meet AI executives in Scotland, where he will discuss responsible development of artificial intelligence technology.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Charles Spencer, Diana's brother and the ninth Earl Spencer, alleges in his upcoming memoir "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister" that then-Prince Charles said days after her death, “rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough,” during a phone call about funeral arrangements. The allegation sparked significant debate within the Royal Family. In September 1997, six days after Diana's fatal car crash in Paris, Earl Spencer insisted Diana’s young sons, William (aged 15) and Harry (aged 12), should not walk behind her coffin, as Charles reportedly wanted them to do. Buckingham Palace responded by stating that King Charles is "mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason" and affect memory even years later. The Earl’s book aims to correct what he perceives as misconceptions about his sister, with this revelation being a central claim against the late Princess's ex-husband, now King Charles III.
Written for “Charles Response To Diana Claims” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 25 other(s) covering the same event.
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Buckingham Palace has hit back at claims by the late Princess Diana's brother that King Charles III acted cruelly after her death in a car crash in 1997 — the latest of many criticisms leveled at the king by his former brother-in-law Earl Charles Spencer in recent decades.
uncertain
III → hit → decades
The dispute is liable to overshadow a public engagement on Thursday when Charles will meet with various AI executives in Scotland to appeal to them to take care in their work.
asserted
Charles → overshadow → work
Earl Spencer, Diana's elder brother, has written a new book being serialized in the Daily Mail newspaper, in which he alleges that Charles told him in an angry phone call, "rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough," days after Diana died aged 36.
asserted
Diana → write → her
"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 color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss," a palace spokesperson said late on Wednesday.
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spokesperson → comment → Wednesday
Charles and Diana had gone through an acrimonious separation prior to her death in 1997 and relations between the two Charles' were already at rock bottom prior to the late-night tragedy in Paris.
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relations → go → Paris
In the book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," which is due to be published in full next week, Spencer repeats his assertion that he called for Princes William and Harry — then aged 15 and 12 — not to walk in the massive public funeral procession for their mother on September 6, 1997.
asserted
William → publish → September
Spencer claims that Charles subjected him to a "stream of anger" after he raised this objection.
uncertain
he → claim → objection
"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.
asserted
world → unleash → death
'Rest assured', he hissed, 'we'll forget her soon enough!'," Spencer writes.
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Spencer → rest → her
Diana's sudden death in a car crash as her chauffeur tried to evade paparazzi photographers led to an outpouring of grief in much of the UK and beyond for the popular if polarizing princess — known for her striking looks, a relatively easy manner by royal standards, and for her engagement with charitable causes.
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chauffeur → try → causes
The monarchy faced accusations of failing to adequately respond in public to her death, particularly in the immediate aftermath.
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monarchy → face → aftermath
The feud between the Spencers and the Windsors both before and particularly after her death has been a recurring feature in the British press and on popular TV shows like Netflix's "The Crown."
Charles and Camilla in Scotland, set for AI event
Charles and Queen consort Camilla have been at Balmoral Castle in Scotland for most of September, attending a series of appointments amid their stay.
One of the higher profile engagements takes place on Thursday at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, where Charles is hosting executives from AI companies like Nvidia, Google DeepMind, Open AI and Anthropic, among others, at what's seen as a crucial time for the industry.
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what → recur → industry
"The decisions taken at this formative time will shape the world inherited by future generations," the King would say, according to excerpts released in advance by the palace.
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King → take → palace
"The task before you is not merely to advance technology, but to ensure that it remains firmly in the service of humanity, community and the natural world."
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it → advance → humanity
Britain's Minister for Artificial Intelligence Kanishka Narayan, promoted to a new bespoke ministerial role by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, will also attend the event.
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Narayan → promote → event
So will Paolo Benanti, an adviser to Pope Leo XIV, who has demonstrated considerable interest, and indeed concern, in AI development.
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who → demonstrate → development
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you → rely → news
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