# King Charles breaks silence on Spencer's Diana claims

> The palace issues a rare statement after Charles Spencer's memoir alleges the king showed contempt for Princess Diana after her death.
- Title: King Charles breaks silence on Spencer's Diana claims
- Summary: The palace issues a rare statement after Charles Spencer's memoir alleges the king showed contempt for Princess Diana after her death. King Charles responded…
- Keywords: king charles, charles spencer, princess diana, diana death, royal family, memoir, buckingham palace, prince william, prince harry, diana funeral, 1997, news
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/entertainment/king-charles-responds-charles-spencer-claims-princess-diana-rare-statement
- Author: Lori Bashian
- Published: 2026-09-16T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: king charles, charles spencer, princess diana, diana death, royal family, memoir, buckingham palace, prince william, prince harry, diana funeral, 1997, news
## Spencer alleges Charles showed contempt
In his upcoming memoir, Charles Spencer claims King Charles expressed pent-up contempt for Princess Diana after her death, allegedly telling him, 'Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough.'

> 'Rest assured,' he hissed, 'we'll forget her soon enough!'
## The dispute was over Diana's funeral
The disagreement centered on whether Prince William and Prince Harry, then 15 and 12, should walk behind their mother's casket during the funeral procession in 1997.
## Palace issues rare statement
Buckingham Palace broke its usual silence on books to respond, suggesting Spencer's grief may have clouded his memory and judgment about events from 27 years ago.

> the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory
## Spencer has long opposed the decision
Spencer told the BBC in 2017 that making the boys walk behind the coffin was 'bizarre and cruel,' calling it the most horrifying half hour of his life and saying he still has nightmares.

> It was the most horrifying half an hour of my life.
## Harry also criticized the funeral plan
In his 2023 memoir 'Spare,' Prince Harry wrote that several adults were aghast at the decision and that Spencer told the royal family the boys couldn't walk behind their mother's coffin.
## Diana died 27 years ago in Paris
Princess Diana died in August 1997 at age 36 from injuries sustained in a car crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris. She had been divorced from Charles for one year.
## Spencer's memoir releases this month
Spencer's book 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister' is set to be released on September 22, making these allegations public for the first time in detail.
## Key takeaway

King Charles responded to his former brother-in-law's allegations by suggesting grief can distort memory, rather than directly addressing the claims.