Buckingham Palace has been drawn into fresh controversy after King Charles III responded to deeply personal allegations made by Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, reopening one of the most painful chapters in modern royal history.

The dispute centres on revelations in Spencer’s memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which revisits the events surrounding Diana’s tragic death in 1997 and the difficult days that followed.

In the book, Earl Spencer describes an alleged heated telephone conversation with the then-Prince Charles shortly after Diana’s death. According to his account, the disagreement concerned whether Princes William and Harry, who were just 15 and 12 at the time, should walk behind their mother’s coffin during her funeral procession.

Spencer claims he strongly opposed the idea, believing that Diana would never have wanted her young sons to endure such an emotionally difficult public experience.

However, he alleges that the conversation with Charles became increasingly tense, culminating in a remark that has now attracted considerable attention.

According to Spencer, Charles allegedly told him: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!”

The claim has reopened questions about the relationship between Diana’s family and the royal household during the aftermath of her death.

Buckingham Palace Issues an Unusually Strong Response

Perhaps most strikingly, Buckingham Palace departed from its usual reluctance to comment on books and historical allegations by issuing a pointed statement addressing Spencer’s recollection.

A palace spokesperson 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 judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.”

Although the statement did not directly address every detail of Spencer’s account, its wording was widely interpreted as a challenge to the accuracy of his recollection.

The response immediately attracted attention because public disagreements involving the monarch and members of Diana’s family are relatively unusual.

Earl Spencer Refuses to Back Down

Rather than retreating following the Palace’s response, Earl Spencer stood firmly by his account.

In subsequent interviews, Diana’s brother insisted that he remembered the conversation clearly and maintained that he was telling the truth.

He also expressed disappointment with the Palace’s response, describing it as condescending and questioning the suggestion that grief might have affected his memory.

Spencer has explained that his intention in writing the memoir was to present his personal perspective on Diana’s life, her experiences within the royal family and the events that followed her death.

His decision to revisit these memories has nevertheless reignited debate about whether painful family history should remain private or be brought into the public conversation.

Prince William and Prince Harry Caught in the Middle of History

The revelations also bring renewed attention to one of the most emotional moments in royal history: Diana’s funeral procession.

Millions watched as William and Harry walked behind their mother’s coffin through the streets of London alongside their father, Prince Charles, Prince Philip and Earl Spencer.

Prince Harry has previously spoken about how difficult that experience was for him as a child, describing it as something no young person should have been expected to endure.

For William and Harry, the funeral remains an important part of their personal histories, even as their relationship with the wider royal family has evolved over the years.

Neither prince has publicly commented on the latest allegations surrounding their mother’s funeral.

A Painful Chapter for King Charles

For King Charles, the controversy represents another reminder of the complicated history surrounding his marriage to Diana and the public reaction to her death.

Diana remains one of the most remembered members of the British royal family, with her humanitarian work, personal struggles and relationship with the monarchy continuing to attract international attention.

The new allegations have also revived discussions about the royal family’s response to public mourning in 1997, when criticism mounted over the Palace’s handling of the days following Diana’s death.

Although nearly three decades have passed, the emotional significance of that period remains considerable.

Will the Royal Family Ever Put the Past Behind Them?

The latest dispute raises difficult questions about the relationship between the House of Windsor and the Spencer family.

While King Charles has made his position clear through the Palace’s statement, Earl Spencer appears determined to preserve his version of events.

The disagreement also comes at a time when the royal family continues to face public interest in questions of reconciliation, family loyalty and its complicated history.

For many royal watchers, the central issue is no longer simply what was allegedly said during a telephone conversation in 1997. It is whether the wounds surrounding Diana’s life and death can ever truly be put to rest.

One thing is certain: Princess Diana’s legacy continues to command enormous public attention, and the revelations from her brother’s memoir have ensured that some of the monarchy’s most painful memories remain firmly in the spotlight.

What do you think? Should King Charles and Earl Spencer finally put this painful chapter behind them, or does the public deserve to hear Diana’s family’s side of the story?