Charles Spencer, the brother of Princess Diana, has been accused of cashing in on his sister's memory with a new book that settles scores with King Charles, according to columnist Carole Malone. Writing in the Daily Express, Malone says Diana would be ashamed of her brother, who vowed after her death never to profit from her story but has now written a tell-all book 30 years later.
The book, titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, has been serialised in a national newspaper for a large sum. Spencer has defended the work, saying: “I could have written a royal hit piece if I’d wanted to. But I didn’t.”
Claims about King Charles disputed
Malone questions Spencer's claim that King Charles was “giddily elated like a lottery winner” on hearing of Diana's death. She says she finds the allegation disgusting and impossible to believe, noting that Charles was the father of Diana's children.
Instead, Malone cites journalist Tina Brown, who interviewed friends and staffers at the time, saying Charles was “out of his mind with grief, guilt and paternal anguish” and believed people would blame him. Spencer has since backtracked on his claim, saying he could not be sure of the King's thoughts but felt there was a “lightness in his tone”.
Past controversies and family wounds
Spencer has already apologised to Piers Morgan for claiming that, while editor of The Mirror, Morgan published intrusive photos of Diana and was responsible for a multi-million-pound payout. According to Malone, Spencer did not even work for The Mirror until two years later. Morgan is suing Spencer and wants the book pulped because it carries what he says is a damaging lie about him.
Malone also notes that Spencer, who had four wives and was accused by his first wife's lawyer of being a “serial adulterer”, refused Diana refuge when she begged to stay on his estate for a holiday. She argues the book was not to honour Diana but to settle scores and make money, and asks why Spencer does not give the proceeds to charity if money is not his motivation.
The columnist adds that the book will likely deepen rifts between Princes William and Harry and their father, and reopen painful wounds, particularly with Spencer's claim that Charles said: “We’ll forget her soon enough.”
