‘Those are exactly the words he said’: Earl Spencer says he is telling the truth about the King

Earl Charles Spencer has reaffirmed his claims that King Charles III made disparaging remarks about Princess Diana shortly after her death, stating he is “telling the truth” about the alleged conversation. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, the Earl described the remark as “monstrous,” claiming the then Prince of Wales reportedly said, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” This assertion comes amid ongoing public scrutiny and a sharp rebuke from Buckingham Palace, which accused the Earl of having “clouded reasoning” due to grief. Spencer, speaking from his Althorp estate, emphasized that he had only had two conversations with Prince Charles throughout his life, both of which occurred during critical moments, once before Diana’s death and once after. He stated he was “hyper alert” to what Charles was saying during the call and insisted the words were exact. “I can tell you here and now, those are exactly the words he said,” he told the BBC. He added that he had shared the details with close family and friends immediately upon learning of the remark, calling it “so monstrous” that he felt compelled to speak out. Buckingham Palace responded swiftly to the allegations, issuing a statement that characterized the Earl’s account as a product of “fraternal grief” clouding judgment. A palace spokesperson said, “His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory.” The statement was unusually direct and dismissive, marking a rare public confrontation with a member of the royal family. Spencer, however, questioned whether the King was truly angry or merely embarrassed by the remarks. “Well, is he furious? Is he furious or is he embarrassed?” he asked, expressing skepticism about the palace’s portrayal of the incident. He described the palace’s rebuttal as a “smudged one,” noting that they had framed the issue around the variability of human memory rather than directly refuting his claims. In addition to the alleged remark about forgetting Diana, Spencer’s memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, includes other controversial claims. According to the book, Prince Charles appeared “giddily elated, like a lottery winner” upon hearing of Diana’s death. The memoir also alleges that some within Buckingham Palace were “relieved, indeed, pleased” that Diana had died, believing it would free Charles to pursue a relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles. The book further claims that Queen Elizabeth II initially reacted “tetchily” to news of Diana’s accident, asking, “What’s she been up to now?” before realizing the gravity of the situation. Spencer also recounted the emotional turmoil surrounding Diana’s funeral, describing the moment when the then Prince of Wales, overwhelmed by grief, insisted on a full state funeral for his sister. He noted that Charles defied protocol by demanding that Diana’s coffin be draped in the royal standard as it returned from Paris to London, a gesture that underscored his deep personal connection to her. A source close to the King told The Telegraph that the alleged remark about forgetting Diana was “just not in his nature and it certainly wasn’t in his nature at that time, when he was a man absolutely grief-stricken.” The source emphasized that Charles was “paralysed with grief” and deeply committed to honoring Diana’s legacy through the elaborate funeral arrangements. Despite the palace’s refusal to comment on the latest developments, political figures have weighed in. Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, expressed solidarity with the monarchy, stating, “I have a side and it’s always on the side of His Majesty.” She reiterated the palace’s position, asserting that the statement attributed to the King was accurate. As the controversy continues, the public awaits further clarification, with the Earl’s memoir set to be fully published soon. For now, the debate remains centered on the credibility of Spencer’s account versus the official stance of Buckingham Palace, with neither side offering definitive proof to settle the dispute.