Fresh tensions within the Royal Family have surfaced following the publication of new claims in a book by Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer. The book contains fresh allegations about King Charles’s reaction to the death of the Princess of Wales in 1997, including claims that the King was “giddily elated” after receiving a phone call at the time of her death.
The claims at the centre of the row
Earl Spencer’s book sets out his account of events surrounding the death of his sister, Princess Diana, and includes allegations about how King Charles responded in the immediate aftermath. One claim at the centre of the current row is that Charles was “giddily elated” when he received a phone call following the Princess’s death — a characterisation that has provoked sharp reaction from Buckingham Palace and from supporters of the King.
The book also makes wider claims about the dynamics within the Royal Family at the time and in the years since. As the brother of Princess Diana, Earl Spencer occupies a unique position in the Royal story, and his account is likely to attract significant public and media attention regardless of the controversy it generates.
Palace response
Buckingham Palace has responded to the claims, with a spokesperson stating that “grief can colour memory”. The response suggests that the Palace regards the characterisation of the King’s reaction as questionable, pointing to the well-documented grief experienced by members of the Royal Family at the time of Princess Diana’s death.
The Palace has maintained a steady position throughout the row, declining to engage in a detailed rebuttal of every claim while making clear that it disputes the portrayal of the King’s conduct. The response is consistent with the institution’s broader approach to handling allegations about the Royal Family’s private conduct — measured, brief, and intended to close the matter rather than fuel further speculation.
Why it matters
The publication of a book containing fresh claims about the Royal Family’s conduct inevitably draws intense public interest, particularly when it touches on events as historically significant as the death of Princess Diana. The 1997 tragedy remains one of the most emotionally charged episodes in modern British royal history, and any new material about the internal dynamics of the family at that time is likely to be widely read and debated.
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The row also highlights the ongoing tension between the Royal Family’s private sphere and public curiosity. While the Palace seeks to keep certain matters out of the public domain, the publication of personal accounts by close relatives of the Windsors — particularly those with first-hand knowledge of key events — makes that boundary difficult to maintain.
For King Charles, the timing of the claims adds to a period in which the monarchy has been navigating a series of public and private challenges. The allegation that he was “giddily elated” at the time of Diana’s death, even if disputed, feeds into wider narratives about the Royal Family’s conduct during a period of intense public scrutiny.
What happens next
The immediate focus will be on how the Palace and the King’s office handle any further statements or interviews arising from the book’s publication. Buckingham Palace has shown a willingness to respond directly to specific claims when it considers it necessary, and further comments may follow if the story continues to generate headlines.
For Earl Spencer, the book’s publication marks another intervention in the long-running story of his sister’s life and death. Whether the claims attract legal challenge, further media investigation, or simply public debate remains to be seen. What is clear is that the row has reopened questions about one of the most significant periods in the modern history of the British monarchy.
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