Earl Spencer Defends Princess Diana Book Claims and King Charles Criticism
- Among the book's central claims is an account of an argument between Earl Spencer and the then-Prince Charles over whether Princes William and Harry should walk in their...
- During that telephone call, Earl Spencer claimed that Prince Charles defended the plan by saying, according to the BBC, Well, I walked behind Lord Mountbatten's coffin.
- I really was so stunned and after a stunned silence I said 'I can not believe you just said that' and I hung up on him, Earl Spencer...
Memoir Details and Funeral Procession Dispute
Among the book’s central claims is an account of an argument between Earl Spencer and the then-Prince Charles over whether Princes William and Harry should walk in their mother’s funeral procession. He stated that Prince Charles subsequently called him to challenge that opposition.
During that telephone call, Earl Spencer claimed that Prince Charles defended the plan by saying, according to the BBC, Well, I walked behind Lord Mountbatten’s coffin.
When Earl Spencer replied that Charles was 30 at the time and Lord Mountbatten was not his mother, the earl alleged that Charles went ballistic
and ranted about the Spencer family’s sense of duty before declaring, We’ll forget her soon enough.
I really was so stunned and after a stunned silence I said ‘I can not believe you just said that’ and I hung up on him,
Earl Spencer told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg during an interview at his Althorp estate, as reported by the BBC. When later asked by Kuenssberg who viewers should believe, Earl Spencer maintained, I can tell you here and now, those are exactly the words he said.
Buckingham Palace Response and Tone Allegations
Buckingham Palace issued a strongly worded response to the claims. According to the BBC, the Palace stated that the King was 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.
In addition to the funeral dispute, Earl Spencer described receiving a telephone call from Prince Charles in the hours following Princess Diana’s death in a Paris car crash. At the time, the earl was at his home in Cape Town, South Africa. He alleged that Charles spoke with a giddy tone
that jarred with him, comparing the prince’s reaction to that of a lottery winner,
as noted by the BBC. When Kuenssberg asked if he could be certain of what Prince Charles was thinking, Earl Spencer clarified to the BBC, I cannot be sure, I’m saying that’s what I assume from the tone is a possibility.
Context of the 1997 Tragedy
Princess Diana died at the age of 36 alongside Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul in a car crash on August 31, 1997. Earl Spencer told the BBC that he initially received a middle-of-the-night call from his sister Lady Jane Fellowes stating that Diana had been in a crash but that it’s not too serious,
before receiving subsequent calls reporting a broken leg, a head injury, and finally her death.
The public fallout surrounding the tragedy created a volatile atmosphere in the United Kingdom, with the Royal Family facing widespread public criticism for appearing out of touch and failing to show adequate emotion. Prince Harry has previously commented on the funeral arrangements, stating in a BBC interview that walking behind his mother’s coffin at age 12 was something no child should be asked to do, though he later expressed gladness at having been part of the historic day. Earl Spencer’s full interview with Laura Kuenssberg is scheduled to air on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer.