Summary
- A former member of King Charles III’s staff has challenged claims about the monarch’s reaction to the death of Princess Diana in 1997, as a new memoir by Diana’s brother Charles Spencer draws renewed attention.
- Grant Harrold, who worked as Charles’ butler from 2004 to 2011, is among former staff members cited in a RadarOnline report as disputing the portrayal of the king in Spencer’s memoir, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.” Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, writes in the book that Charles sounded “giddily elated” after Diana’s death in a Paris car crash in August 1997.
- The book has prompted renewed public discussion of Diana’s relationship with Charles and the events surrounding her death nearly three decades ago.
A former member of King Charles III’s staff has challenged claims about the monarch’s reaction to the death of Princess Diana in 1997, as a new memoir by Diana’s brother Charles Spencer draws renewed attention.
Grant Harrold, who worked as Charles’ butler from 2004 to 2011, is among former staff members cited in a RadarOnline report as disputing the portrayal of the king in Spencer’s memoir, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.”
Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, writes in the book that Charles sounded “giddily elated” after Diana’s death in a Paris car crash in August 1997. The memoir was published in September, ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2027.
A source quoted by RadarOnline said other former members of Charles’ staff did not recognize the monarch described by Spencer and that some former staff with public profiles were considering speaking publicly about their experiences.
The source described the potential response as a public-relations effort to challenge Spencer’s account, saying former employees could offer their own recollections of Charles’ relationship with Diana.
Harrold has previously spoken publicly about his time working for Charles and has challenged aspects of accounts concerning the royal family.
Buckingham Palace has also responded to Spencer’s memoir, saying in a statement that “grief can distort memory” and appearing to question the accuracy of some of his recollections. Spencer has defended his account and said he stands by his memories.
Spencer’s memoir recounts his memories of Diana’s life and death and revisits events surrounding her funeral, including his opposition to Prince William and Prince Harry walking behind their mother’s coffin.
The book has prompted renewed public discussion of Diana’s relationship with Charles and the events surrounding her death nearly three decades ago.
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