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Buckingham Palace refutes claim King Charles said world would forget Princess Diana

A statement suggests grief impacted Charles Spencer's memory regarding an alleged argument following Diana's death

Updated Sep 22, 2026 · 14:33 UTC14 reports

The short version

  • Charles Spencer’s upcoming memoir alleges King Charles claimed the world would quickly forget Princess Diana after her 1997 death.[Variety · The Hollywood Reporter]
  • Buckingham Palace issued a rare statement rejecting the account, noting that grief can cloud reason and memory.[Variety · The Hollywood Reporter]
  • Excerpts from the book leaked early after four copies were reported stolen from a delivery truck in the Netherlands.[Variety · The Hollywood Reporter]

Key facts

  • Charles Spencer's upcoming book 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister' claims King Charles made disparaging remarks about Princess Diana in a post-1997 telephone argument.[Variety · The Hollywood Reporter]
  • Buckingham Palace issued a rare response stating grief can affect judgment and memory, calling the alleged remark completely out of character for the King.[Variety · The Hollywood Reporter]
  • The Daily Mail reported four copies of Spencer's book were stolen from a truck in the Netherlands prior to its official publication date, leading to early leaks.[Variety]

What remains uncertain

  • The exact nature and wording of the private conversation between King Charles and Charles Spencer remain disputed.[Variety · The Hollywood Reporter]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.