Earl Spencer Defends Claim That King Charles Said "We'll Forget Her Soon Enough" About Diana

Earl Spencer, 62, Princess Diana's younger brother, gave an exclusive BBC interview broadcast Friday defending claims made in his forthcoming memoir, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," due out next week.

In the book, Spencer alleges that in the days after Diana's death on August 31, 1997, he and the then-Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) argued over whether Princes William and Harry should walk behind their mother's coffin in the funeral procession. Spencer says Charles "went ballistic" and "ranted for a while," accusing the Spencer family of lacking an adequate sense of duty, before allegedly telling him: "We'll forget her soon enough."

Pressed by the BBC on whether his memory of a nearly 30-year-old conversation could be faulty, Spencer was unequivocal: "I can tell you here and now, those are exactly the words he said." He added, "I'm telling the truth," and noted the King's silence on the matter was telling: "I don't hear him saying he didn't say that." Spencer said he has had only two phone calls with Charles in his entire life, which he says is why the exchange stuck with him so vividly.

Buckingham Palace issued a carefully worded statement rather than a denial, saying the King was "mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss." The Palace declined to comment further.

The dispute reopens long-simmering tension between the Spencer and royal families over the handling of Diana's death and funeral arrangements. "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister" is expected to be sharply critical of the royal family more broadly when it hits shelves next week.