Earl Charles Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana, claims in extracts from his upcoming memoir that King Charles sounded "giddily elated – like a lottery winner" during a phone call immediately following Diana's death.
Spencer suggests that some within Buckingham Palace were relieved by her passing. He further alleges that the then-prince held contempt for his ex-wife, claiming Charles told him she would be forgotten soon enough. According to Spencer, while Charles was adamant about walking behind Diana's coffin, palace officials feared the public might shout abuse at him.
Buckingham Palace has issued a robust and extraordinarily rare response, rejecting the criticisms made by Earl Spencer in the bombshell memoir. The palace's statement serves as a rare rebuke to the claims, as Spencer has been a fierce critic of his former brother-in-law for decades.