Palace disputes Spencer claim about Charles after Diana's death

Buckingham Palace has issued a rare public statement disputing a specific claim from Earl Charles Spencer's upcoming memoir about King Charles's reaction to Princess Diana's death. The Palace's response, described by a former communications secretary as "highly unusual," came after an excerpt from the book "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister" alleged that the then-Prince Charles told Spencer during a phone call about Diana's funeral procession, "rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough." The Palace statement, released on September 17, 2026, did not directly quote the allegation but addressed its substance. "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 judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss," a spokesperson said. The statement was widely noted for its careful wording, drawing comparisons to the late Queen Elizabeth II's 2021 phrase "recollections may vary" following Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah Winfrey.