Earl Spencer has opened up about the difficulty of hearing strangers share their memories of where they were when his sister, Princess Diana, died. Speaking on author Gyles Brandreth's podcast, 'Rosebud', the earl revealed how the anniversary of her death on August 31 leaves him 'fundamentally unhappy'.
He recounted an encounter with an American woman who claimed she 'grew up with Diana in South Dakota', clutching him to her 'ample bosom'. Spencer admitted that while such stories may help others, they are 'not entirely helpful' to him. He noted that he tries to stay busy on the anniversary, spending time with his seven children cutting flowers and visiting Diana's grave at the family's Althorp estate in Northamptonshire.
Reflecting on Diana's enduring appeal, Spencer described her legacy as something people interpret to suit themselves, 'almost like a horoscope'. He credited Lord Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey, with observing that Diana's charm stemmed from 'something unhappy' about her, akin to great film stars who trigger emotional responses.
The earl also recalled a suspected arson attack at a farmhouse on the Althorp estate in May, which he described as 'stunned' that vandals would target the property. He shared the incident on social media, noting the building was unoccupied.
