King Charles reportedly seemed ‘elated’ on the day of Princess Diana’s death, according to her brother.

Earl Spencer has released a series of damning claims about the Royal Family in a new book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, set for release next week.

In the wake of the late Princess of Wales’ death in 1997, at the age of 36, Earl Spencer said the now-king was one of many callers to offer their condolences.

But the conversation with Charles was a little different. to others. ‘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,’ he wrote.

‘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.’

This is just one of a handful of explosive claims made by Earl Spencer in recent days.

In extracts published by the Daily Mail, he also claimed the King had said his ex-wife – from whom he split in 1992 before their divorce was finalised the year before her death – would soon be forgotten.

And speaking with Laura Kuenssberg in an upcoming BBC interview, he compared Harry and Meghan’s treatment during their time as working royals to his sister’s.

As fresh bombshell claims emerge, is keeping up with all the latest updates about the unfolding saga here.

Harry and Meghan’s treatment ‘echoes’ Diana’s

Princess Diana’s brother has said the treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle by the media has ‘echoes’ of what happened to his sister, Diana.

Earl Spencer has described intense media scrutiny of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as a ‘cancerous influence in their life’.

Speaking to the Laura Kuenssberg, Earl Spencer was asked whether he thought Diana would have identified with the scrutiny Harry and Meghan face.

‘I’m not here to speak for Harry and Meghan, but for anyone who’s being destroyed in this way daily, it must be such a cancerous influence in their life,’ he said.

‘And I think it would be really beholden on people to learn from Diana’s example.’

Where and when can I watch Earl Spencer’s interview with Laura Kuenssberg?

Earl Spencer will speak with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg later today from his Althorp estate.

Kuenssberg is expected to ask about some of the claims Diana’s younger brother has already put out as his upcoming book is serialised by the Daily Mail, plus uncover new details.

The full interview with Laura Kuenssberg will air on Sunday on BBC One at 6.30pm BST, or if you can’t wait that long, you can watch it on BBC iPlayer from 4pm.

September 20, 2026 11:54 am

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