King Charles and Diana's Brother Clash Again Over Princess Diana's Death

Buckingham Palace has pushed back against claims made by Earl Charles Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana, in his new book, alleging that King Charles III acted cruelly after Diana's death in 1997.

This latest dispute threatens to overshadow a public engagement where King Charles is set to meet with AI executives in Scotland. Earl Spencer has been a vocal critic of his former brother-in-law for decades.

Highlights

• Earl Charles Spencer's new book accuses King Charles III of acting cruelly following Princess Diana's death.
• Buckingham Palace dismissed the claims, stating that fraternal grief can cloud judgment and memory.
• Spencer alleges that Charles told him in an angry phone call, "rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough," days after Diana's passing.
• The book also claims Charles reacted with anger when Spencer suggested Princes William and Harry should not walk in their mother's funeral procession.
• The controversy arises just as King Charles is scheduled to host a significant meeting with AI industry leaders in Scotland.

Details

In his new book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," Earl Spencer claims that King Charles angrily told him, "rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough!" shortly after Diana's death. A palace spokesperson responded by stating that while they do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is aware that the pain of fraternal grief can affect judgment and memory, even many years after such a loss.

Spencer further alleges that Charles unleashed a "stream of anger" when he objected to Princes William and Harry, then aged 15 and 12, walking in their mother's funeral procession. The relationship between Charles and Diana had been strained prior to her tragic death in 1997.

Amidst these renewed criticisms, King Charles is currently at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. On Thursday, he is scheduled to host executives from leading AI companies such as Nvidia, Google DeepMind, and OpenAI at Dumfries House, where he will discuss the future of the industry and the importance of technology serving humanity.

Why it matters

These new allegations reignite old tensions within the British Royal Family and come at a challenging time for King Charles's public image. Princess Diana's death remains a sensitive topic for the British monarchy, and such disputes can influence public perception of the royal family. Furthermore, the prominence of these personal disagreements is notable as King Charles attempts to demonstrate leadership on critical issues like artificial intelligence.