LONDON – Princess Diana’s brother is making a stunning accusation against King Charles, and Buckingham Palace is pushing back.
Earl Charles Spencer claims in his soon-to-be-published memoir that then-Prince Charles told him — after Diana’s death — “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” Spencer also says he opposed the decision to have Diana’s young sons, Princes William and Harry, walk in her funeral procession.
The palace stopped short of calling Spencer a liar. But it did issue an unusually sharp response.
“His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and color memory,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
Spencer to speak out on CBS
Spencer will detail his allegations in an exclusive interview on CBS Sunday Morning this weekend. The claims first surfaced through the Daily Mail, which reported on the contents of the upcoming book and began publishing excerpts.
CBS Sunday Morning airs at 7 A.M. on News 6.
Diana’s death and the palace’s rocky history with public opinion
The accusations resurface a painful chapter for the royal family. Diana’s death in 1997 triggered an unprecedented outpouring of public grief — and fierce criticism of the royals for appearing out of touch with the nation’s pain. Tabloid headlines demanded the palace “Show Us You Care” in what became a public relations disaster for the institution.
CBS News royal contributor Roya Nikkhah says the tension is unlikely to go away.
“The royal family will never be able to lay Diana to rest because the memory of her continues to occasionally haunt the royal family,” Nikkhah said.