Earl Spencer has marked the anniversary of Princess Diana's death, describing the date as his "least favourite day". The former Princess of Wales died aged 36 in a car crash in Paris exactly 29 years ago today.
Diana is buried on a small island in the Round Oval Lake on the Althorp estate in Northamptonshire, the Spencer family's ancestral home where her brother Earl Spencer now serves as custodian.
Taking to Instagram today, Earl Spencer shared a photo of the Spencer family crest flag flying at half-mast over the main Althorp House. He accompanied the image with the message: "31 August. My least favourite day."
Fans pay tribute at Kensington Palace
Devoted fans of the princess have gathered at the gates of her former London home, Kensington Palace, to leave flowers and other tributes.
The anniversary comes just three weeks before Earl Spencer is due to release his deeply personal memoir, written to counter "untruths" about her life. His new book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is scheduled for publication on September 22 and is expected to contain "many revelations that will draw considerable attention", according to its publisher.
Memoir aims to correct the record
The earl famously delivered a passionate eulogy at her funeral, pledging that Diana's "blood family" would protect William and Harry "so that their souls are not simply immersed by duty and tradition, but can sing openly as you planned".
He explained his decision to write the memoir: "With the 30th anniversary of Diana's tragic death on the skyline, I've been inundated yet again with requests for interviews about my sister."
"This has convinced me to write down my own thoughts and memories, once and for all, rather than having the discomfort of again reading the opinions of others, many of which are based on untruths that have become accepted over time."
Daniel Bunyard, publishing director at Penguin Random House UK, said: "While these pages contain many revelations that will draw considerable attention, readers will find, for the first time, but also for all time, a fitting tribute to the beloved woman who was Princess Diana."
Harry's return and family visits
The anniversary also falls just days after Diana's younger son Prince Harry relocated to the UK from California with his wife Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
During a brief summer stay just weeks ago, Harry took both children, who are now enrolled in British schools, to see Diana's resting place for the first time. He has previously revealed how he makes lemon drizzle cake to mark the day each year as a "sweet" way to remember his mother.
There has been no official confirmation of any events as yet next year to mark the 30th anniversary of Diana's death. One tricky situation is the rift between Harry and his older brother Prince William, with many questioning whether they would agree to come together for any commemorations given the depth of their feud.
In the Palace's Sunken Garden stands the bronze statue of Diana commissioned by the now-Prince of Wales and Harry, and unveiled by the estranged brothers together in 2021. The pair put on a united front despite their rift to reveal the sculpture on what would have been their mother's 60th birthday.
In 2007, William and Harry commemorated 10 years since their mother's death together, staging a pop concert at Wembley on what would have been her 46th birthday, and an emotional memorial service in London on the actual anniversary. The day before the 20th anniversary in 2017, the siblings were side by side as they viewed tributes left for the princess outside Kensington Palace.
