King Charles Challenges Diana Brother's Claim He Said 'We'll Forget Her Soon Enough' After Death

Buckingham Palace has issued a rare response after Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, alleged that the then-Prince Charles told him, 'we'll forget her soon enough' days after Diana's death in 1997.

The claim appears in Spencer's forthcoming memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which is due to be published on 22 September. Buckingham Palace has not confirmed the alleged conversation and instead questioned whether grief could have affected Spencer's recollection.

The Alleged Phone Call That Sparked the Dispute

According to Spencer's account, the dispute centred on whether Princes William and Harry, then aged 15 and 12, should walk behind their mother's coffin during Diana's funeral procession. Spencer writes that he objected after being told that the boys would take part, prompting a phone call from the then-Prince of Wales that quickly became heated.

In the memoir, Spencer alleges that Charles expressed anger over his objection before saying: 'Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough.' Spencer says he was shocked by the remark and ended the call.

The account is Spencer's recollection of a private conversation nearly three decades ago and has not been independently verified.

Diana died in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997, aged 36. Her funeral took place on 6 September, with William and Harry walking behind her coffin alongside other members of the royal family and Spencer. Contemporary documentation establishing the exact exchange has not been cited in reports of the memoir extract.

Buckingham Palace Responds to Spencer's Account

Buckingham Palace issued an unusual response to the allegation. A Palace 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 judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.'

The statement does not provide a detailed account of the alleged conversation. Instead, it raises questions about the reliability of Spencer's recollection of events surrounding Diana's death.

Julian Payne, who served as Charles's communications secretary, also questioned the wording attributed to the King. Payne said the alleged comment was 'just not language that I recognise'.

The Palace response has drawn comparisons with Queen Elizabeth II's 2021 statement following claims made by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, when she said that 'recollections may vary'. However, the two statements concerned different circumstances and should not be treated as equivalent responses.

Diana's Enduring Cultural Legacy

Charles and Diana married in 1981 and their divorce was finalised in 1996. Diana's public profile and cultural legacy have continued to attract attention nearly three decades after her death.

Her so-called 'revenge dress' is also due to return to the spotlight this year. Sotheby's is scheduled to auction the black Christina Stambolian dress in New York on 9 December 2026, nearly three decades after it was last sold at auction.

The latest dispute comes as Spencer prepares to publish Swan Song: Diana, My Sister on 22 September. Further extracts from the memoir may provide additional details about his account of Diana's life and the events surrounding her death.

The allegation about the private conversation remains unverified. Spencer's account should therefore be presented as his recollection, while the Palace's response should be treated as a challenge to the reliability of that recollection rather than independent confirmation of what was said.