King Charles sounded “giddily elated” and “like a lottery winner” on the day of Princess Diana’s death, her brother, Earl Spencer, has claimed in his bombshell memoir.
“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,” Earl Spencer wrote in the memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, serialised in the Daily Mail.
“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.”
Spencer said he believes Charles’ reaction reflected “how this event might free him to marry the woman he loved, rather than appreciating the loss of one he did not”.
The book also alleges that in the days after Diana’s death, King Charles had said: “rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough”.
His remarks were allegedly during a major dispute over funeral arrangements after Diana’s death in August 1997.
In an unusually strong rebuke, Buckingham Palace said that the King is mindful that “grief can cloud reason”, a response it reiterated after the latest allegations.
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Key Points
- King Charles acted 'like a lottery winner' after Diana's death, claims Earl Spencer's book
- Diana attempted to break off engagement to Charles, claims Spencer's memoir
- William and Harry 'made to walk behind Diana’s coffin to protect Charles from insults’
- Buckingham Palace hits back at claims made by Earl Spencer
- Who is Earl Spencer?
- King told Palace staff to never criticise Diana, former royal aide says
King set for third day of controversy as ‘war of words’ rumbles on
07:15 , Bryony GoochThe King looks set to endure a third day of controversy as the war of words between Buckingham Palace and Earl Spencer, the brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, continues.
In the latest extract from Earl Spencer’s book serialised in the Daily Mail, Diana’s brother claimed that the late Queen Elizabeth II considered restoring his sister’s Her Royal Highness title, which she lost when she divorced Charles.
It comes after a dispute blew up between the King and Earl Spencer, who claimed the then-prince told him, “rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough”, days after Diana’s death in 1997.
Earl Spencer further claimed in his memoir of his sister that the King sounded “giddily elated… like a lottery winner” when he rang the earl following the princess’ death.
Earl’s bombshell book claims Charles acted like ‘lottery winner’ after Diana death – full report
07:00 , Jane Dalton
Earl Spencer’s book claims Charles acted like a ‘lottery winner’ after Diana’s death
Diana tried to break off engagement to Charles, claims Spencer's memoir
06:00 , Jane DaltonPrincess Diana tried to break off her engagement to Prince Charles after finding a bracelet that he had bought for Camilla, Earl Spencer has claimed in his memoir.
The princess had been seen in tears as she said goodbye to Charles as he left for official business, he writes, adding that newspapers believed it was “the pain of a lovestruck innocent being parted from her fiancé”.
Spencer adds: “The truth was very different. Diana was completely at sea, having found a bracelet that Prince Charles had bought for Camilla.
“A month or so after that, she became so concerned she even tried to break off their engagement. “
The book also claims that Charles told Diana that he did not love her on the eve of their wedding.
“Only much later would I discover that, as she confided to a close friend, her husband-to-be had told her the previous day that she needed to know he was very happy to marry her, but he was not actually in love with her,” Spencer wrote.
“Diana had to absorb that hammer blow while also feeling certain that Prince Charles was entering their marriage with his heart elsewhere.”
Watch: King meets AI tech bosses
05:00 , Jane DaltonPalace hits back at Earl Spencer’s book claims
03:40 , Jane Dalton
Palace hits back at Earl Spencer’s Diana book claims: ‘Grief can cloud reason’
The complicated family bond between Charles and Diana Spencer
02:20 , Jane Dalton
How close was Charles Spencer to his sister Diana? Inside their complicated bond
In pictures: William and Kate at Beachwatch Bute
01:00 , Jane Dalton
Spencer's allegations fail to halt royals' engagements
Thursday 17 September 2026 23:30 , Jane DaltonThe royal family were out in force as a series of allegations were made against the King in a tribute book to Diana, Princess of Wales by her brother.
William and Kate met dozens of residents on Scotland’s Isle of Bute, posed for selfies and even played shinty as they celebrated the island’s community spirit and volunteering ethos.
The King presided over a gathering of the world’s leading AI companies and warned of the “existential dangers” of the new technology falling into the wrong hands.
Harry gives speech at first public appearance
Thursday 17 September 2026 22:57 , Holly EvansGiving a speech at the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, Harry told the story of how Invictus began.
He said: “In 2008, flying home from Afghanistan, I travelled alongside three seriously injured British servicemen and the coffin of a Danish soldier.
“That flight stayed with me because it helped me begin to understand two things about the military that would shape the rest of my life: it gives you purpose, identity, belonging, a team; and in a matter of seconds, injury or illness can take it all away.
“Years later, after seeing the Warrior Games in America, we brought an idea back to London. We had less than a year to make it happen — which was probably useful, because it gave everyone less time to tell us it couldn’t be done.
“In September 2014, more than 400 competitors from 13 nations came together for the first ever Invictus Games. Now 12 years later, thousands have benefited. We have 26 nations in our community, and the games are coming home!
“And something happened that was bigger than sports competition. People who thought a part of their life was over began to see that something else might just be beginning. Their families, too, saw loved ones return to them in mind and spirit.”
The duke also had a message to veterans at the awards and around the world.
He said: “And to the veterans here tonight, and those wherever you are around the world, I want to say this as one soldier to another: your service matters. What you gave in uniform matters. And people far beyond the military community who see in your example what courage, resilience and leadership actually look like.
“People are watching. The teammate who is struggling. The young soldier wondering what life after uniform might look like. The family trying to find its way forward.
“You may no longer wear the uniform, but you still lead. Every time you get back up, reach back for someone else, or turn what happened to you into purpose for others, you are serving again — just differently.
“And that matters far beyond our military community. National resilience isn’t built by governments alone. It is built in communities – by people who know how to endure, adapt, lead under pressure and look after one another when things get tough.
“At a time when societies around the world are being tested, the Invictus spirit has something to teach all of us. This community doesn’t just demonstrate resilience. It helps build it.
“Never underestimate what your example gives to the world.”
Opinion: Charles should have listened to his mother – ‘Never complain, never explain’
Thursday 17 September 2026 22:30 , Jane DaltonCharles should have listened to his mother – ‘Never complain, never explain’
Charles Spencer’s memoir stolen from lorry
Thursday 17 September 2026 21:30 , Jane Dalton
Charles Spencer’s Princess Diana memoir stolen from lorry
Flashback: Diana claimed Charles said they were disappointed Harry wasn't a girl
Thursday 17 September 2026 20:30 , Jane DaltonIn a previously unearthed old recording, Princess Diana claimed her husband had said they wanted Harry before he was born to be a girl.
Royal family dogged by controversy
Thursday 17 September 2026 19:44 , Jane DaltonHarry met members of the Band of the Irish Guards as he arrived at the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards.
Recap: 'Charles was elated he could marry the woman he loved,' Spencer says
Thursday 17 September 2026 19:20 , Jane DaltonRecap: The King sounded “giddily elated… like a lottery winner” when he rang the brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, following her death, Earl Spencer’s new memoir claims.
Allegations published in the Daily Mail sparked an “unprecedented” response from Buckingham Palace, who said “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason”.
In excerpts from Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, Earl Spencer writes about Charles’s phone call following the car crash in 1997.
One passage reads: “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 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.”
The palace has yet to respond to the latest claims, but a spokesman said on Wednesday: “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.”
Harry's first public appearance since return to UK
Thursday 17 September 2026 19:16 , Jane DaltonThe Duke of Sussex was seen in public for the first time since returning to the UK when he arrived at the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in London.
He attended the ceremony at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, southeast London.
Dressed in black tie and wearing his military medals, he posed for photographs for the press and then for selfies with wounded veterans.
His father the King and Earl Charles Spencer, the brother of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, are involved in a war of words.
Thursday evening’s event supports wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans by raising funds for the Invictus Games Foundation, of which Harry is the founding patron.
The ceremony was being opened by actor James Corden, with a headline performance from singer Jess Glynne.
Harry arrives at Invictus awards
Thursday 17 September 2026 19:06 , Jane DaltonThe Duke of Sussex, wearing his military medals, arrived at the Invictus Spirit Awards in London.
Charles flew into rage over funeral plans, Diana's brother says
Thursday 17 September 2026 18:31 , Jane DaltonCharles, the then-Prince of Wales “went into a rage” and accused Earl Spencer of having “no sense of duty” for arguing William and Harry should not walk behind Diana’s coffin, her brother claims in his memoir.
The book reads: “A few minutes later, my direct line rang again. It was Prince Charles, sounding markedly less upbeat than when we had last spoken, on the morning of Diana’s death.
“‘I gather you’ve got a problem with the funeral arrangements,’ he said testily.
“‘No, I don’t think so,’ I said, my mind on the structure of the service as it was coming together.
“‘But I gather you’ve said you don’t want William and Harry to walk behind Diana’s coffin.’
“‘Well, of course not, sir. Diana would never have wanted that.’
“‘But I did it at Lord Mountbatten’s funeral!’
“‘But you were 30, sir, and he wasn’t your mother.’
“He went nuts. ‘That’s the problem with your family. They’ve got no bloody sense of duty!’ he started, before descending into a general rage.”
'Charles was in love with his valet, Diana said'
Thursday 17 September 2026 18:13 , Jane DaltonDiana told her brother Earl [Charles] Spencer “my husband is in love with his valet”, the extracts from his book say.
She was explaining that she was going to get divorced.
“One day Diana asked me at very short notice to join her for lunch at San Lorenzo, her favourite London restaurant,” the memoir reads.
“She looked down at the table and said, ‘Carlos, I’m going to get divorced.’
“I was silent for a moment. I had known things were bad, but not this bad.
“‘Well, Duch,’ I carefully replied, ‘you of course have my full support… I know you’ll have thought this through.
“‘But my main worry is the public. I fear they won’t forgive you. They’ve bought into a fairytale, and I reckon they may well – wrongly – blame you for destroying their fantasy.’
“She looked up at me, nodded, and said quietly: ‘But, Carlos, my husband is in love with his valet.’
“I gulped. ‘Well, I guess, in that case, you really don’t have a choice’.”
Diana attempted to break off engagement to Charles, claims Spencer's memoir
Thursday 17 September 2026 18:02 , Alex CroftPrincess Diana attempted to break off her engagement to Prince Charles after finding a bracelet that he had bought for Camilla, Earl Spencer has claimed in his memoir.
The princess had been seen in tears as she said goodbye to Charles as he left for official business, he writes, adding that newspapers believed it was “the pain of a lovestruck innocent being parted from her fiancé”
Spencer adds: “The truth was very different. Diana was completely at sea, having found a bracelet that Prince Charles had bought for Camilla.
“A month or so after that, she became so concerned she even tried to break off their engagement. “
The book also claims that Charles told Diana that he did not love her on the eve of their wedding.
“Only much later would I discover that, as she confided to a close friend, her husband-to-be had told her the previous day that she needed to know he was very happy to marry her, but he was not actually in love with her,” Spencer wrote.
“Diana had to absorb that hammer blow while also feeling certain that Prince Charles was entering their marriage with his heart elsewhere.”
Diana contemplated 'ending it all', claims Spencer
Thursday 17 September 2026 18:02 , Jane DaltonEarl Spencer also writes in his book that his sister drove more than once to cliffs at Beachy Head in East Sussex and was “contemplating ending it all”, adding that “her love for her sons stopped her from going further”.
The book reads: “It is a sad fact that, in her later years, Diana drove herself more than once to Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in England, while contemplating ending it all.
“Her love for her sons stopped her from going further.”
William and Harry forced to walk behind Diana’s coffin ‘to protect Charles from insults’, claims memoir
Thursday 17 September 2026 17:41 , Alex CroftEarl Spencer’s memoir claims that William and Harry were made to walk behind Princess Diana’s coffin at her funeral procession in order to protect Prince Charles from insults by the crowd.
In a widely disputed decision, the two boys, aged just 15 and 12, were made to walk in the procession, viewed by millions worldwide.
“Sir Robin Janvrin, the Queen’s Deputy Private Secretary, told the committee planning the funeral that if Prince Charles went ahead, then I must be persuaded to walk with him,” Earl Spencer’s memoir says.
“This was out of fear that, if Prince Charles walked alone, members of the public might shout abuse at him. The committee realised that if they could persuade William and Harry to be there too, that would surely guarantee against insults flying.”
People in Buckingham Palace were 'pleased Diana died', claims Earl Spencer's book
Thursday 17 September 2026 17:20 , Alex CroftWe can bring you more claims from Earl Spencer’s memoir, which is being serialised in the Daily Mail.
Spencer claims there were figures in Buckingham Palace who were pleased that Princess Diana had died.
He says that there were “others in the Palace, I already knew, who were relieved – indeed, pleased – that she had gone”.
