Earl Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, has ignited a fresh royal controversy with claims from his new book. He alleges King Charles expressed 'anger' and suggested Diana would 'soon be forgotten' after her death, a claim Buckingham Palace firmly rejects. The article delves into Spencer's aristocratic background, his complex relationship with Diana, and the potential impact of these revelations on the British royal family, particularly Princes William and Harry.
Earl Charles Spencer, brother to the late Princess Diana, has ignited a fresh royal saga with claims from his new book, which one newspaper suggested could 'plunge a dagger into the heart' of Diana's sons. Spencer, who famously pledged in his sister's eulogy to protect William and Harry, now alleges that King Charles (then Prince Charles) reacted with a 'stream of anger' after Diana's death, disagreeing with Spencer's view that the princes shouldn't participate in the funeral procession. He further claims Charles said, 'we’ll forget her soon enough,' a statement Buckingham Palace has firmly rejected. Some British media and commentators question the timing, while others defend Spencer for prioritizing family over royal tradition. Born in London on May 20, 1964, Charles Spencer comes from a prominent aristocratic family with deep ties to the British monarchy; Queen Elizabeth II was his godmother. The family's ancestral seat is the Althorp estate in West Northamptonshire, purchased in 1508. Spencer was educated at prestigious institutions like Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied modern history. He worked as a journalist for NBC News for a decade and has authored several books, including those about his own family and royal figures. He has seven children from three marriages. His relationship with Diana was close during childhood, particularly during their parents' divorce, as they grew up together at Althorp House. However, their bond wasn't without friction, with past letters revealing disagreements, such as Spencer declining Diana's request for a home on the estate and a phone call ending abruptly. Despite these squabbles, Spencer delivered a powerful and emotional eulogy for Diana in 1997, praising her compassion and fiercely criticizing the media's treatment of her. Spencer's initial feelings towards King Charles were warm when Charles and Diana first met. However, their relationship has publicly deteriorated with the recent book claims. While Spencer stated in a 1999 interview that Charles was 'perfectly polite' at Diana's funeral and 'nothing nasty has ever been said about it by him to me,' the new revelations contradict this. Buckingham Palace's rare rebuttal suggested 'fraternal grief can cloud reason.' These claims are seen as a test of alliances within the British royal family, especially given Princes William and Harry's already rocky relationship and Harry's continued close ties with the Spencer family, recently evidenced by visits to Althorp and Spencer family members attending Harry's Invictus Games event. Many hoped for a fresh start for the family with the Sussexes' return, but these new fractures suggest further complexities.
