Prince William Drawn Into Renewed Row Between Earl Spencer And King Charles

A new memoir about Princess Diana has reopened one of the most painful chapters in the Royal Family’s history, with Earl Spencer standing by his account of an alleged conversation with King Charles following Diana’s death in 1997.

Spencer, Diana’s younger brother, makes the claims in Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which was published on September 22, 2026. His account has prompted an unusually direct response from Buckingham Palace, while commentary surrounding the dispute has also focused on how Prince William may be affected by the renewed family tensions.

According to Mail on Sunday editor-at-large Charlotte Griffiths, William is reportedly experiencing what she described as “multigenerational fury” over the latest developments.

That description refers not simply to the current disagreement, but to the longer history of conflict surrounding Diana, Charles and the Royal Family.

Earl Spencer’s Claims About King Charles

One of the most controversial passages in Spencer’s memoir concerns the days immediately following Diana’s death in a car crash in Paris.

Spencer writes that he objected to the decision for William and Harry, then aged 15 and 12, to walk behind their mother’s coffin during her funeral procession. He claims that the then Prince Charles responded by telling him: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”

The two young princes ultimately did walk behind Diana’s coffin, creating one of the most enduring images from her funeral in September 1997.

Spencer has continued to stand by his recollection, while Buckingham Palace has challenged the account without directly calling him a liar.

In an unusual public response, the Palace said the King was mindful that “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.”

The wording prompted a further response from Spencer. Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, he accused the King of “gaslighting” him and described the Palace’s statement as provocative. He also compared it with the late Queen Elizabeth II’s famous phrase, “recollections may vary.”

Spencer has insisted that he is telling the truth about what he remembers from the period following Diana’s death.

Why Prince William Has Been Mentioned

The renewed dispute has inevitably brought Diana’s sons back into the discussion.

William and Harry were children when their mother died, and both were directly involved in the funeral procession that Spencer describes in his memoir. The latest controversy therefore revisits an event that has remained part of the brothers’ public history for almost three decades.

William himself has not publicly endorsed his uncle’s account. In fact, recent reports say both William and Harry declined to answer questions about Spencer’s memoir during separate public appearances in London on September 21 and 22.

The claims about William’s reported reaction therefore come from commentary rather than a public statement from the Prince of Wales.

The “Multigenerational Fury” Claim

Charlotte Griffiths discussed the situation on GB News, describing reports of William’s reaction as “multigenerational fury.”

She suggested that the phrase reflects a broader sense of frustration over the succession of controversies connected to the Royal Family and the fact that William is expected eventually to inherit the institution along with its unresolved history.

Griffiths said William was reportedly not only angry about the latest dispute but also weary of having to deal with problems originating from previous generations.

Her interpretation was that the Prince would prefer to represent a more modern monarchy rather than remain defined by disputes that began long before his own reign.

These are Griffiths’s characterisations of William’s reported feelings, rather than comments made publicly by William himself.

William And Catherine’s More Private Family Life

Griffiths also contrasted the continuing royal controversies with the relatively low-key family life William has built with Princess Catherine.

She pointed to William’s use of an e-bike around Windsor and described the couple as maintaining a comparatively ordinary routine with their children.

The couple have also been seen taking their children to school and participating in activities alongside other parents, details that Griffiths used to illustrate the more private lifestyle they are seeking.

According to Griffiths, that contrast makes the continued public drama particularly frustrating for William.

She argued that while he may have little control over disputes involving previous generations, he is ultimately expected to carry the institution forward.

A Dispute That Reopens Old Wounds

Spencer’s memoir has brought renewed attention to the relationship between Diana, Charles and the wider Royal Family just weeks before the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death.

The book is presented by Spencer as his personal account of his sister’s life and legacy, but several of its claims have already triggered public disagreement. The controversy surrounding his recollection of Charles is particularly significant because Buckingham Palace chose to respond despite its usual reluctance to comment on books about members of the Royal Family.

Spencer has stood by his version of events. The Palace has questioned the reliability of memories formed during profound grief. And William, whose childhood was at the centre of the events being revisited, has not publicly taken a position on the dispute.

For now, the latest chapter remains a clash between Spencer’s recollection and the Palace’s response — while the decades-old legacy of Diana continues to cast a long shadow over the Royal Family.