King Charles ‘Sounded Giddily Elated — Like a Lottery Winner’ After Princess Diana Died, Says Her Brother Charles Spencer
King Charles ‘Sounded Giddily Elated — Like a Lottery Winner’ After Princess Diana Died, Says Her Brother Charles Spencer
Stephanie PetitThu, September 17, 2026 at 4:14 PM UTC
51
Charles Spencer; Princess Diana; King CharlesCredit: Amanda Edwards/WireImage; Antony Jones/UK Press via Getty; Chris Jackson/Getty -
In the first excerpt of Charles Spencer’s upcoming book about Princess Diana, he recalls learning about the 1997 car accident that killed her
The 9th Earl Spencer said he received a call from the future King Charles, who “sounded giddily elated”
“I suspect the prince’s first reaction must have been to think more of how this event might free him to marry the woman he loved,” Spencer said in the book
Charles Spencer recalled how he learned of his sister Princess Diana’s death in his new book, including his first call with the future King Charles about the tragedy.
The first excerpt of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister was published by the Daily Mailon Thursday, Sept. 17, in which the 9th Earl Spencer, 62, recounts learning about the August 1997 car accident in Paris involving Diana. Although the severity of the accident wasn’t immediately apparent, he was later told by his other sister Jane that Diana had died.
“The phone rang constantly. Prince Charles caught me as I crossed the landing upstairs,” Spencer wrote. “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, I remember thinking at the time.”
Spencer said King Charles, now 77, then relayed how Prince William and Prince Harry, then ages 15 and 12, were told about their mother’s death.
“He let me know he had informed William and Harry of their mother’s death, first thing that morning, in their bedrooms at Balmoral. It all sounded strangely matter-of-fact, given the enormity of the disaster,” Spencer said in the book.
“Looking back now, I suspect the prince’s first reaction must have been to think more of how this event might free him to marry the woman he loved, rather than appreciating the loss of one he did not. It can be hard to feel too much sympathy for an ex-spouse, or those who care for them profoundly, after bitter divorce,” Spencer continued.
On Sept. 16, the Daily Mailpublished the first preview of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, in which Spencer recalled a phone call with then-Prince Charles discussing whether William and Harry would walk behind Diana’s coffin in the funeral procession. Spencer said he was against the idea, and their exchange became heated.
Advertisement
Spencer writes, per the Daily Mail: “Prince Charles continued his stream of anger, without me interrupting. Then he stopped. I assumed the pause signaled an effort to bring himself under control, but then he unleashed down the phone what I have always taken to be his pent-up contempt for Diana, and his horror that the world was so bowled over by her death.”
“ ‘Rest assured,’ he hissed, ‘we’ll forget her soon enough!’ “ Spencer wrote.
A palace spokesperson then issued a rare comment in response: “While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss.”
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister was announced last month. Spencer said he decided to write it after being “inundated” with requests for interviews as the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death approaches next year.
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
After recording the audiobook, Spencer recounted the experience in an Instagram media post, calling Swan Song the “most personal” book he’s ever written.
“At heart, this is a brother’s simple tribute to an extraordinary sister,” he wrote. “When I finished the recording, I thought: ‘That is exactly what I wanted and needed to say — and she would, I reckon, have approved of every word.’ ”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
