Royals break cover after Princess Diana’s brother’s explosive claims

The British royals have broken cover after more explosive claims have been revealed from Princess Diana’s brother’s new book.

Charles Spencer, whose new book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister drops on September 22, claims King Charles sounded “giddily elated, like a lottery winner” on the night his ex-wife was killed in a car crash almost three decades ago.

Excerpts of the book have been appearing in Britain’s Daily Mail.

Earl Spencer gave his account of the night of the 1997 crash in disturbing detail.

“Unlike my other callers, who were stunned, barely able to articulate their condolences and offers of help, he [Charles] sounded giddily elated, like a lottery winner, I remember thinking at the time,” the excerpt read.

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"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.

"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."

Earlier releases of the book this week prompted King Charles to issue a rare defence in light of the veracity of the claims.

Channelling his mother’s “recollections may vary” statement, His Majesty via the palace shut down Earl Charles Spencer’s explosive allegations that appear in his new book about his late sister.

“He [Charles] 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’,” Earl Spencer wrote in an extract serialised in the Daily Mail on Wednesday.

On Wednesday night (Thursday morning AEST), a palace spokesperson refuted the claims in extraordinary fashion.

“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 colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss,” they said in a statement.

Swan Song: Diana, My Sister marks the first time in the almost 30 years since Princess Diana’s death – aged 36, in a Paris car crash – that Earl Spencer has spoken at length about his sister.

King Charles, Prince William and Kate have done what members of the British royal family do best in the face of criticism – keep calm and carry on.

His Majesty was out in Scotland, hours after Buckingham Palace issued a rare response to the monarch’s former brother-in-law’s claims he shouted that Princess Diana would be forgotten “soon enough” just days after her 1997 death.

On Thursday, King Charles was back at it, giving a speech during a meeting for leaders from the artificial intelligence sector, government, and thought leaders at Dumfries House, which functions as a headquarters for his charity The King’s Foundation.

Touching on recent comments from global tech bosses about the potential extinction of the human race at the hands of AI in the future, the monarch told the group they needed to bring things under control before it’s too late.

“The decisions taken at this formative time will shape the world inherited by future generations,” King Charles said.

“And so, the task before you is not merely to advance technology, but to ensure that it remains firmly in the service of humanity, community and the natural world. As we embrace what is new, we must not lose what is timeless.”

And speaking of the next generation – Prince William and his wife Kate were nearby, in the Isle of Bute to promote community and connection on their first visit to the island.

The Duke and Duchess of Rothsay, as they’re known in Scotland, also visited their namesake town of Rothsay, which is on the island.

During the visit they stopped in at sporting centre the Bute Shinty Club, where they were shown how to play the fast-paced Gaelic game Shinty.

The Duchess of Rothsay was a field hockey player at school and in university and appeared to take to the game – which uses a curved wooden stick and a small leather ball – nicely.

They then travelled to Ettrick Bay, where they met the team behind Beachwatch Bute and helped pick up rubbish along the coastline.

Their last stop for the day was the Anchor Tavern Pub in Port Bannatyne, which is now community-owned after the locals came together to buy the pub when it shut down in 2020. They added a community hub to it as well.

The prince and princess ignored any noise surrounding the royal family and carried off their charm offensive with aplomb, high-fiving little kids, petting dogs and posing for photos.

The couple’s all-day outing came just hours before Prince Harry’s first public appearance since moving back to the UK.

The Duke of Sussex was due to attend an Invictus Games awards evening in London.