Princess Diana’s brother claims Charles said she would be forgotten ‘soon enough’ just days after her death

Princess Diana’s Brother Claims Charles Made Funeral Remark

Healfromzero.com – Princess Diana s brother claims King Charles said she would be forgotten “soon enough” during a tense telephone call only days after Diana’s death in 1997. Charles Spencer recounts the alleged exchange in his forthcoming memoir, Swan Song, describing a disagreement over the funeral arrangements for Diana’s two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

Buckingham Palace has strongly challenged Spencer’s account. While the palace said the King does not comment on books as a general rule, a spokesperson indicated that grief can shape memories and judgement long after a devastating loss.

“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 color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss,” a palace spokesperson said.

Dispute over William and Harry’s role

According to Spencer, the argument centred on whether William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin during the funeral procession. The princes were 15 and 12 when Diana died, and both ultimately joined the public procession days later alongside their father, Spencer and Prince Philip.

Diana died in August 1997 after suffering internal injuries in a high-speed car crash in Paris. Her death triggered enormous public mourning in the UK and around the world, with vast numbers of flowers left outside royal residences.

Princess Diana s brother claims he objected to the boys taking part because he believed their mother would not have wanted them to undergo such an experience. He writes that Charles became increasingly angry during their call.

“Prince Charles continued his stream of anger, without me interrupting. Then he stopped,” Spencer wrote.

Spencer says he initially thought the silence might signal a calmer turn in the conversation. Instead, he alleges that the then-Prince of Wales made the remark about Diana being forgotten.

“Rest assured,” he hissed, “we’ll forget her soon enough!”

Spencer writes that he responded by saying he could not believe what had been said before ending the call. The palace statement does not address every detail of his recollection, but it clearly rejects the overall characterisation.

A period still marked by grief

The funeral procession remains one of the most enduring images from the period following Diana’s death. The sight of William and Harry walking behind the coffin has prompted continuing discussion because of their young ages and the intense global attention surrounding the event.

Princess Diana s brother claims the memoir will revisit other difficult moments involving the royal family. Its publication is expected to renew attention on the strain between Diana’s relatives and the institution she joined when she married Charles in 1981.

Diana’s public legacy remains exceptionally strong. She was known internationally for a direct, empathetic style and for her charitable work, including support for people affected by illness and social exclusion. The scale of mourning after her death reflected the connection many people felt with her.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Charles Spencer say happened?

Spencer says that, during a call about Diana’s funeral arrangements, Charles said she would be forgotten “soon enough.” Buckingham Palace has disputed the portrayal in a statement about the effects of grief on memory and judgement.

Why did William and Harry walk in the procession?

William and Harry took part in the public funeral procession after their mother’s death in 1997. Spencer says he opposed their involvement at the time, while the event became a defining moment in the public mourning that followed.