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Queen offered to restore Diana's HRH title after death
Queen Elizabeth proposed restoring Princess Diana's HRH title posthumously, sparking a royal feud with Earl Spencer.
In brief
Queen Elizabeth proposed restoring Princess Diana's HRH title posthumously, sparking a royal feud with Earl Spencer. Queen Elizabeth offered to restore Princess Diana's royal title after her death, but Earl Spencer rejected it as 'hollow' consolation. Originally reported by Dailymail.
Queen's posthumous HRH offer
Queen Elizabeth proposed restoring Princess Diana's royal title on the day of her funeral.
“Queen Elizabeth proposed handing back his sister's Her Royal Highness title”
Earl Spencer's memoir
Earl Spencer describes Queen's offer in his memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
“Swan Song: Diana, My Sister”
Queen's offer details
Queen offered the title via Robert Fellowes, her Private Secretary and Spencer's brother-in-law.
“Robert Fellowes, the Queen's Private Secretary and his brother-in-law”
Spencer's rejection
Spencer rejected the offer, stating Diana would 'dreadfully hurt' by the title removal.
“Diana was 'dreadfully hurt' by the 'petty and vindictive' removal of her HRH title”
Spencer's view on offer
Spencer felt the Queen's gesture was 'hollow' despite being 'well-meaning'.
“The consolation prize was hollow, however well-meaning the Queen's gesture”
Spencer's memoir context
Spencer wrote the memoir ahead of Diana's 30th death anniversary.
“ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana's death next year”
Spencer's marriage claims
Spencer claims Diana told her father she couldn't go through with marriage to Prince Charles.
“Diana told her father she could not go through with the marriage to Prince Charles”
Spencer's marriage claims
Spencer claims Prince Charles said he was 'not in love' with Diana.
“Charles told Diana that while he was happy to marry her, he was not in love with her”
Spencer's suicide claims
Spencer claims Diana considered suicide and drove to Beachy Head cliffs.
“Diana was so unhappy that she considered suicide and drove herself 'more than once' to Beachy Head cliffs”
Spencer's posthumous title
Spencer claims Diana lost HRH title after divorce in August 1996.
“Diana lost her HRH title after her divorce in August 1996”
Spencer's title rejection
Spencer rejected Queen's offer, saying title should never have been removed during life.
“The title should never have been removed during her life, in which case it would not have been necessary to offer it to her in death”
Royal Palace response
Palace questioned Spencer's account, saying grief can 'cloud reason, affect judgment'.
“grief can 'cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory'”
Spencer's memoir impact
Spencer's memoir sparked war of words between King and Earl Spencer.
“The book has sent shockwaves through the Royal Family”
Spencer's title claim
Spencer claims Queen offered title just hours after delivering eulogy.
“When we had gone some miles, Robert beckoned me to follow him into a quiet corner of the carriage. I have just received a call from Her Majesty …and she would like to offer Diana her HRH title back”
Spencer's title doubt
Spencer wondered if he was right to reject the offer.
“he later wondered whether he was right to reject the offer”
Spencer's tombstone thought
Spencer considered if Diana would see value in HRH on tombstone.
“maybe Diana would have seen some point in having HRH carved on her tombstone”
The takeaway
Queen Elizabeth offered to restore Princess Diana's royal title after her death, but Earl Spencer rejected it as 'hollow' consolation.
