Spencer Accuses King Charles of Gaslighting Over Diana Memoir Claim

Charles Spencer has accused King Charles III of "gaslighting" him following a rare statement from Buckingham Palace that disputed the earl's account of a private phone call after Princess Diana's death. The dispute centers on Spencer's upcoming memoir, "Swan Song Diana, My Sister," which includes an excerpt alleging that the then-Prince Charles made a dismissive remark about Diana during a call in August 1997. In the memoir excerpt, Spencer claims that six days after Diana's fatal car crash in Paris, he had a phone conversation with Charles during which the prince said, "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough!" Spencer described the alleged comment as a "pent-up contempt for Diana" and said he was so shocked by the remark that he immediately told close friends and family. Buckingham Palace issued an unusual public statement in response to the claims. A spokesperson said, "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 judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss.