Earl Charles Spencer has faced a series of humiliations this week following the publication of his memoir Swan Song, which alleged that King Charles sounded “giddily elated” when discussing Princess Diana’s death over the phone. The backlash has been swift and damaging, with Buckingham Palace issuing a rare public rebuttal.
Palace rebuttal and legal action
The Palace responded to the allegations by stating that “recollections may vary” when it comes to “fraternal grief.” The Royal Family rarely comments on such drama, having refused to address ongoing stories about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, making this response particularly notable.
Adding to Spencer’s troubles, Piers Morgan has taken legal action over an error in the book. Swan Song claimed Morgan was at The Mirror in 1993 when it published photographs of Diana at the gym, but he did not join that publication until 1995, having been at The Sun in 1993. Spencer has since apologised for the mistake.
Public opinion largely unchanged
A poll shared on Sky News this week revealed that public opinion about King Charles remains largely stable despite the book’s allegations. Data from Delta Poll showed 45% of people thought it was false that the King sounded “giddily elated, like a lottery winner,” while 31% thought it was true.
The same poll found that 62% of people think the King is doing a good job, and more than half (53%) believed Spencer had written the book purely for money. These figures suggest the memoir has not had the effect Spencer likely anticipated.
Credibility and consequences
Spencer now faces a pricey lawsuit and his credibility as an historian being called into question. Even after almost 30 years, he is still grieving his sister, and now he is being accused of profiting off her death. Meanwhile, the monarchy remains stoic, and the public impression of it appears largely stable.
The situation has led to a clearer picture: King Charles now has something to be “giddily elated” about, as the monarchy has shown once and for all that it is going nowhere. Despite what critics might throw at the institution, it is here to stay.
