'We’ll forget her soon': Princess Diana’s brother reveals what Charles III said after her death
Princess Diana (photo: Getty Images)
Buckingham Palace has publicly responded to claims made by Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana. In his memoir, he claims that shortly after his sister’s death, the then Prince Charles allegedly said: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”
AP News reports that the claim appears in Spencer’s upcoming book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which is due to be released on September 22, 2026.
What the palace said
According to Charles Spencer, the dispute between him and the then Prince of Wales arose over arrangements for Diana’s funeral. The princess’s brother opposed the decision for her sons, 15-year-old William and 12-year-old Harry, to walk behind their mother’s coffin during the funeral.
Spencer claims he considered such a decision too difficult for the children. According to his account, during an emotional phone conversation, Charles said: “Rest assured, we’ll soon forget her.” The episode has become one of the most talked-about passages in the upcoming memoir.
Buckingham Palace did not comment directly on the book, but issued an unusually strong statement.
Princess Diana (photo: Getty Images)
A palace representative noted that the King understands how the pain of sibling grief can cloud the mind, affect judgment and memory, with the effects of such an experience potentially remaining even many years after the loss.
Thus, the palace did not provide its own version of the conversation or present evidence that would directly refute Spencer’s quote. At the same time, the wording of the statement clearly casts doubt on the reliability of his memories of events that took place almost 30 years ago.
Spencer’s other claims
In the book, Charles Spencer also describes the then Prince Charles’s reaction to Diana’s death. According to him, Charles behaved so elated during their conversation that the princess’s brother compared his state to that of someone who had just won the lottery. This, too, is Spencer’s own recollection and assessment, rather than a fact.
The memoir covers Diana’s life, her relationship with her brother and the events of the final week of her life. The publisher describes the book as Spencer’s personal account of his sister, written nearly three decades after her death.
Diana died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, at the age of 36. Her funeral was held on September 6.
The new book is being released ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2027 and has already attracted considerable attention.
