Earl Spencer’s book will only deepen the mistrust and divide between William and Harry

Analysis: Few things anger Prince William more than spilling family secrets and exposing intimate details about matters that should remain private.

His brother, Prince Harry, did it three years ago by publishing his memoir Spare, leaving the Prince of Wales feeling deeply betrayed, with the Duke of Sussex later admitting “some members of my family will never forgive [him]” for writing it.

The divide between the two princes is now bigger than ever with no signs of their years-long feud coming to an end, despite Harry publicly declaring his desire for reconciliation and recently moving back to Britain.

Now, Earl Spencer − the man who vowed to protect the brothers − has written a book that threatens to further the divide between William and Harry all while forcing them to relive the pain of their mother’s death, nearly 30 years on from the tragedy, still regarded as one of the monarchy’s darkest chapters.

Swan Song: Diana, My Sister − which covers the princess’ childhood, her unhappy marriage to the then-Prince of Wales, now King Charles, and the aftermath of her death − has already sparked a war of words between its author and the monarch.

In a rare break from its usual mantra of “never complain, never explain” Buckingham Palace condemned the book in a statement last week after unsettling claims were made about the king. “Fraternal grief”, the palace said, could “cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory...many years after such a loss”.

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Earl Spencer, who is the younger brother of the late Princess of Wales, says he gave fair warning to his nephews, and his two sisters Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, about his decision to write it.

“All I would say is one was...So all four of them, I told them exactly the same time,” Earl Spencer told People.

There has been no word about how Diana’s sons feel about the book, which is published in Australia tomorrow (Wednesday September 23). Both William and Harry have kept their silence, so far.

“I can say that Harry is completely fine about it,” the earl added, insisting he was “not in any way compromising their privacy at all”.

There “was a concern”, the earl admitted, as to how King Charles would be represented in the book. So far, the monarch has not come across well with Earl Spencer claiming his former brother-in-law “sounded, “giddily elated, like a lottery winner” when speaking of Diana’s death. Earl Spencer also claims Charles “hissed” of Diana “rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough”.

Another claim from the earl is that Diana once told him was going to get a divorce and that “my husband is in love with his [male] valet”.

Many of the earl’s memories have since been called into question by various royal experts, former royal household staff and others who were there for the events in question.

Earl Spencer has gone on the defence in interviews with the BBC and other major media outlets. His claims will be put to the test when he sits down with Tina Brown, the former Vanity Fair editor who had lunch with Diana soon before her death. Brown has always maintained Charles and Diana had a good relationship after their divorce. Her interview with Earl Spencer, later this week, is expected to be heated.

Earl Spencer says he has been restrained from what he included in the book, saying “there was an awful lot I could have put in and I didn’t”.

“If I wanted to write a scandalous book about Prince Charles or King Charles as he is now, it would really be a jaw-dropper, but I’m not here to do that.”

Prince Harry made a similar claim during the publicity tour for Spare, telling The Telegraph UK: “It could have been two books, put it that way”.

He added: “There are some things that have happened, especially between me and my brother, and to some extent between me and my father, that I just don’t want the world to know. Because I don’t think they would ever forgive me.”

Earl Spencer has denied he was one-sided towards Prince Harry, who stayed at the Spencer family home, Althorp House, when he and Meghan and their children holidayed in Britain in July before their move back.

“I think there’s this perception in the media that I’m on Harry’s side,” Earl Spencer told the BBC.

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“Well, I’m on my deceased sister’s sons’ side, both of them.”

Of the feud between the brothers, the earl said:  “I never get involved in one camp or the other, except as a benign figure, I hope. As an uncle, I hope one day it’s resolved. But I don’t know.”

The earl has now reportedly been approached by Harry to take part in a documentary through the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s media company, Archewell Productions, on Diana to mark the 30th anniversary of her death next year.

It is not clear whether Earl Spencer will be involved, having already claimed this book would be his final say on his late sister. “That’s me done,” he said.

What also remains unclear, at this point, is whether there are any larger plans to commemorate the 30th anniversary in London.

Now Harry is based in the UK, he is in prime position to involve himself in any future plans. He and his uncle may choose to join forces.

In July 2021, William and Harry united to unveil a statue of their mother in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace on what would have been her 60th birthday. The feud between the brothers had started around a year before the event.

It is hard to imagine William and Harry coming together again in memory of their mother, no matter how much some members of the public would love to see a reconciliation.

The Prince of Wales has maintained a dignified silence on nearly all matters concerning his younger brother since his and Meghan’s exit from royal duties six years ago.

In September last year, a friend of William’s told The Times that when it came to maintaining a relationship with the future king “it is all about trust and loyalty”.

The public may never hear William’s thoughts on his uncle’s tell-all book, but if “trust and loyalty” are two qualities the Prince of Wales holds dear, his uncle has all but betrayed that by choosing to capitalise on the death of Diana now.

Earl Spencer, in his infamous 1997 eulogy, told the congregation Diana’s boys wouldn’t be “immersed by duty and tradition” and instead given the freedom to “sing openly as [she had] planned”. He vowed to do so as their “blood family”.

At the weekend he told the BBC: “I would feel intrusive if I got more involved than to say, of course, a mother would want her two sons to be happy together and love each other”.

Instead of protecting William and Harry, or helping to unite them, the earl’s book has only served to further the divide between the two warring brothers.

The saddest moment of their lives, and the tragedy that bonds them together like no one else, is making headlines around the world again thanks to their uncle.

In contrast, Diana’s sisters have maintained their silence over the years.

The full extent of William’s relationship with his uncle is unclear. William, however, would be best to maintain his distance − as he has done with Harry in the years since Spare.