King Charles Issues Rare Response To Diana's Brother's Bombshell Claim

King Charles has issued a rare response to a claim made by Diana, Princess of Wales’ brother, Earl Spencer, about a conversation following her death in 1997.

The claim appears in Earl Spencer’s new memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which is being serialised by the Daily Mail.

According to the memoir, Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales, told Earl Spencer “rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough” during an argument about arrangements for Diana’s funeral.

Buckingham Palace has now responded to the allegation.

A spokesperson said that while the Palace does not normally comment on books, Charles is aware that grief can affect how events are remembered.

The statement 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 recognise, even many years after such a loss.”

Earl Spencer claims the conversation happened after he objected to William and Harry, who were then aged 15 and 12, walking behind their mother's coffin during the funeral procession.

He says one of Queen Elizabeth II’s senior aides told him that the two boys were expected to take part in the procession.

According to the memoir, Earl Spencer replied: “that’s not going to happen.”

He says Charles called him minutes later and argued that he had himself walked behind the coffin of his great-uncle, Lord Mountbatten, at his funeral in 1979.

Earl Spencer pointed out that Charles had been 30 years old at the time.

He claims Charles continued to speak angrily before making the alleged comment about Diana.

In the book, Earl Spencer describes Charles as expressing what he believed was “pent-up contempt for Diana” and anger at the public reaction to her death.

He claims Charles then said: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!”

Earl Spencer says he subsequently ended the call.

Diana died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. At her funeral, William and Harry did walk behind their mother's coffin, alongside Charles, Prince Philip and Earl Spencer, during the procession through central London to Westminster Abbey.

Earl Spencer later delivered the eulogy at Diana’s funeral, promising that her family would protect her sons and allow them to live beyond the restrictions of “duty and tradition”.