Princess Diana’s brother is making a startling claim about King Charles’ reaction to her death, alleging that the then-prince sounded almost cheerful when he called after the fatal 1997 car crash.
In his upcoming memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, Charles Spencer recalls receiving a call from Charles after Diana died in Paris.
“Unlike my other callers, who were stunned, barely able to articulate their condolences and offers of help, he sounded giddily elated, like a lottery winner,” Spencer wrote, per Page Six.
Spencer says Charles told him that Prince William and Prince Harry had already been informed of their mother’s death that morning at Balmoral. He describes the conversation as “strangely matter-of-fact, given the enormity of the disaster.” Looking back, Spencer writes that he believed Charles may have been thinking about how Diana’s death could affect his future with Camilla, whom he married in 2005.
Charles and Diana married in 1981, separated in 1992 and finalized their divorce in 1996, one year before Diana died.
Buckingham Palace has disputed Spencer’s account.
“His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory in ways others do not recognize,” a palace spokesperson said.
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is scheduled for release on September 22.
