Princess Diana's Brother Accuses King Charles III of Lying About Her Death

Earl Charles Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana, has publicly accused King Charles III of Great Britain of lying. At issue is a phrase Spencer claims the King uttered after Diana's death in 1997: "Don't worry, we'll soon forget about her." Buckingham Palace has previously stated that no such words were ever spoken, suggesting instead that Spencer's memory had been distorted by the pain of losing his sister.

The Earl, however, is standing firm. "I can tell you right now, these are the exact words he said," Spencer told the BBC in an interview. Responding to the palace's unusually sharp denial, he countered with a pointed question: "Is he furious? Is he furious, or is he ashamed?"

The scandal has erupted around Spencer's new book, "A Very Private School" [Note: actual title unclear in source — rendered as "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister"]. According to BBC royal correspondent Sean Coughlan, the row shows just how raw the wound left by Princess Diana's death remains for Buckingham Palace. In his view, the trauma of those events lies at the root of most of the conflicts currently plaguing the royal family.

What Prince Harry Remembers

The loss of his mother was central to Prince Harry's memoir "Spare," published three years ago, which sparked fierce debate and further strained relations within the royal family. In the book, Charles III's younger son recalls how Spencer fought against the idea of Diana's children being made to walk behind their mother's coffin in public during the funeral. "Mummy's brother, Uncle Charles, was furious: 'You cannot make the boys walk behind their own mother's coffin! It's barbaric,'" Harry quotes in his memoir.

Could the 1997 Crisis Repeat Itself?

British media are now debating whether Spencer's book could seriously damage the royal family's reputation. According to Professor Pauline Maclaran, a marketing scholar who has long studied the British monarchy, Buckingham Palace remains extremely sensitive to any reminders of the story of "a beautiful princess whose life was tragically and mysteriously cut short far too soon."

Commentator Richard Palmer believes the book could plunge the royal family back into a crisis similar to the one that followed Diana's sudden death in 1997. Back then, the late Queen Elizabeth II, Charles's mother, faced public criticism for what many saw as an insufficient display of grief compared to that of ordinary Britons. Public discontent ultimately prompted a televised address from the Queen, paying tribute to the princess's memory.

Palmer argues that the book, combined with the approaching 30th anniversary of Diana's death next year, threatens three decades of royal effort to rehabilitate Charles and Camilla's public image. How strongly the book will sway public opinion remains uncertain: according to a YouGov poll, around 31% of Britons believe Spencer's version of events, 36% consider it unreliable, and 33% remain undecided. Journalist Valentine Low notes that the book is unlikely to dramatically shift public opinion, since most people made up their minds about these events long ago.

Spencer's book is just one of several challenges currently facing the royal family. Earlier this year, police detained the King's brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who is under investigation over alleged misconduct during his time carrying out official royal duties. Meanwhile, the unexpected return of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan to the UK has sparked widespread discussion — and according to Professor Maclaran, the monarchy may well be facing further conflicts ahead.

Source: seznamzpravy.cz