Princess Diana memoir sparks fresh royal controversy

British shoppers rushed to buy copies of a new memoir by Princess Diana’s brother on Tuesday after explosive claims about her troubled marriage to King Charles attracted worldwide attention.

Charles Spencer, who delivered an emotional and widely praised eulogy at Diana’s funeral in 1997, has reignited discussion about the late princess’s relationship with the former Prince of Wales through his book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.

The memoir includes a particularly striking account of Charles’ reaction after Diana’s death, with Spencer claiming that the then-prince sounded “giddily elated” when the news was confirmed.

The claim quickly made headlines and prompted a response from Buckingham Palace. The palace suggested that grief could affect a person’s judgment and recollection, while the controversy threatened to reopen painful memories surrounding one of the royal family’s most difficult periods.

Memoir climbs bestseller charts

Swan Song: Diana, My Sister was officially released in Britain on Tuesday. Excerpts from the book had already dominated newspaper front pages for several days, generating significant public interest ahead of its release.

The attention helped push the memoir to the top of Amazon’s bestseller list in Britain, with readers lining up to learn more about Diana’s personal life and her relationship with the royal family.

Outside a bookshop in central London, 71-year-old Chris Imafidon said he purchased the memoir because he was curious about the allegations, although he questioned whether they were reliable.

He suggested that Spencer’s perspective could partly reflect his desire to defend and protect his sister.

For many readers, however, Diana’s enduring popularity remains a major reason for the book’s appeal. Nearly three decades after her death, she continues to be remembered as one of the most recognisable figures in modern royal history.

Mary Scheible, 69, said she hoped the memoir would provide more personal details about Diana’s childhood, family life and relationship with her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

Spencer has said he decided to write the book because he wanted to provide his own account of his sister’s life and believed it was his responsibility as someone who personally witnessed important events in her history.

Spencer recalls conversation with Charles

One of the most controversial passages concerns a conversation Spencer says he had with Charles shortly after Diana’s death was confirmed.

According to excerpts released before publication, Spencer recalled that Charles sounded noticeably different from other people who contacted him following the tragedy.

He wrote that while other callers appeared shocked and struggled to express their condolences, Charles sounded extremely happy, which Spencer remembered as being similar to the reaction of someone who had won the lottery.

Spencer also offered his interpretation of Charles’ possible thoughts at the time. He suggested that the prince may have immediately focused on the possibility that Diana’s death would allow him to marry Camilla, the woman he loved.

The account has not been independently established as a factual description of Charles’ feelings. It reflects Spencer’s personal recollection and interpretation of events.

Diana and Charles’ troubled marriage

Diana was only 20 when she married Prince Charles in 1981 in a spectacular royal wedding watched by millions around the world.

The couple later welcomed two sons, William and Harry. However, their marriage became increasingly strained, with their personal difficulties eventually becoming the subject of intense media attention.

The couple separated before divorcing in 1996 after years of public speculation and reports about tensions within their relationship.

In 1995, Diana famously discussed the difficulties in her marriage during a BBC interview, referring to Charles’ relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles by saying there were “three of us” in the marriage.

Charles and Camilla eventually married in 2005.

Spencer’s memoir presents an intimate account of Diana from the perspective of her brother, while its claims about the royal family have renewed public interest in the events surrounding her life, marriage and death.

Diana died in a Paris car crash in August 1997 at the age of 36. Her death sparked an extraordinary global outpouring of grief, and her legacy continues to attract public fascination nearly 30 years later.