Charles Spencer publishes Diana memoir 'Swan Song' with claims

What Charles Spencer's book alleges

Charles Spencer's memoir Swan Song was published on Sept. 22, 2026. Blick reported that the book recounts Diana's fears, her troubled marriage to the former Prince Charles and disputes involving the royal family. Spencer was Diana's brother.

The book describes a note made by Diana's lawyer, Lord Mishcon, after a conversation on Oct. 30, 1995. Diana feared that someone might try to kill or seriously injure her in a staged car crash, according to the account. Mishcon interpreted those fears as signs of paranoia.

The memoir also recounts private remarks Diana allegedly made about her marriage. She reportedly told Spencer that her husband had fallen in love with a male servant. The book does not identify the servant, and Spencer considered the claim unlikely. Blick said some royal commentators speculated that the man was Michael Fawcett, a former valet to Charles.

Claims about Charles and Diana

Spencer describes Charles telling Diana shortly before their wedding that he was not truly in love with her. The wedding took place on July 29, 1981. Another passage says Charles commented on Diana's waist after their engagement, after which she told Spencer that her bulimia began. The book links the remark to her growing concern about her body and weight.

Spencer also recounts Charles' reaction after Diana died in a Paris car crash on Aug. 31, 1997. The memoir says Charles sounded relieved during a telephone call with Spencer. Spencer interprets that reaction as connected to Charles' hope of marrying Camilla Parker Bowles.

At Diana's funeral in 1997, Spencer tried to stop William and Harry from walking behind their mother's coffin through London, according to the book. William was 15 and Harry was 12. Spencer considered the procession cruel, but Charles prevailed.

The 1992 family dispute

A separate passage concerns the funeral of Spencer's father in 1992. Charles allegedly told Spencer that he was lucky to inherit so early, because Charles was still waiting to inherit from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Spencer says Charles complained about being treated like a child and stamped his foot during the conversation. 20min reported that Spencer compared the behavior to that of a badly behaved young child.

The book also repeats allegations that BBC journalist Martin Bashir told Diana and Spencer that the security service MI5 was monitoring Diana and that the royal family was involved in conspiracies. One claim involved Tiggy Legge-Bourke, who cared for William and Harry during holidays. The account says Bashir alleged that Charles had fathered a child with her and that she had an abortion. The memoir makes clear that this was Bashir's allegation, not proof of an affair. Tiggy later received an apology and financial compensation from the BBC, Blick reported.

A palace spokesperson responded to another passage by saying grief can affect judgment and memory, even many years after a loss. Spencer writes that he still has much more to tell about Charles.