The late Queen reacted “tetchily” to the news that Princess Diana had been in a car crash before she knew of its severity, Earl Spencer has claimed.
In his most recent extract from his memoir on Friday, Diana’s brother said: “When the Queen had heard the first news of Diana being in a traffic accident, she had asked tetchily, ‘What is she up to now?’ This, before the seriousness of it all became clear.”
The Earl has insisted he is being truthful about his claims, following backlash from Buckingham Palace, which said that the King is mindful that “grief can cloud reason”.
In an earlier excerpt, he also claimed that the Queen considered restoring his sister’s Her Royal Highness title, which she lost when she divorced Charles.
It’s the latest in a string of bombshell allegations made against the royal family and King Charles.
The Earl told the BBC on Friday that he was “telling the truth” after claiming that Charles had said his sister would be forgotten “soon enough” on the phone with him in the days after Diana’s death.
“I can tell you here and now, those are exactly the words he said.”
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Key Points
- Queen reacted 'tetchily' to news of Diana's car crash
- 'Lack of care' led Harry 'to spin out of control' after Diana's death
- Earl Spencer insists he's 'telling the truth' amid backlash
- 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’
Earl Spencer is ‘haunted by demons’, claims royal expert after bombshell book claims
04:00 , Harriette Boucher
Royal expert suspects ‘collusion’ and ‘guilt’ behind Earl Spencer’s bombshell claims
King went 'ballistic' during funeral procession row
03:00 , Harriette BoucherEarl Spencer has claimed the King went “ballistic” before telling him “rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough”, days after Diana’s death in 1997.
In an earlier excerpt, he wrote about how he fought plans for William and Harry to walk behind their mother’s coffin during the funeral procession, which caused a “stream of anger” from the King.
He told BBC: “He went ballistic, would be the right term, and started really going for my family as a whole, about their sense of duty, not being adequate enough, and ranted for a while, I have no idea how long, but it was a significant period, and I just listened.
“And then he stopped, and I thought, ‘Oh now he’s gonna pull himself together and say something more appropriate’, and then he said, ‘We’ll forget her soon enough’.”
He added: “I really was so stunned, and I just, after a stunned silence, I said, ‘I cannot believe you just said that’, and I hung up on him.”
Watch: Royal expert questions timing of Earl Spencer book release
02:00 , Harriette BoucherICYMI: Queen reacted 'tetchily' to news of Diana's car crash
01:00 , Harriette BoucherEarl Spencer has claimed the late Queen reacted “tetchily” to the news that Princess Diana had been in a car crash before she knew of the severity.
“When the Queen had heard the first news of Diana’s being in a traffic accident, she had asked tetchily, ‘What is she up to now?’ This, before the seriousness of it all became clear,” he wrote in his memoir.
The Earl added: “After Diana’s death the Queen said she wanted Diana’s coffin to be placed in the royal burial ground at Frogmore, near Windsor Castle.
“But my family was determined that Diana must come home to Althorp. We knew she would have wanted to do so. Besides, having had her HRH title removed as part of the package of humiliation handed to her at her divorce, almost a year to the day before her death, Diana was no longer eligible for royal Frogmore.”
In an excerpt released yesterday, he claimed that the Queen considered restoring his sister’s Her Royal Highness title, which she lost when she divorced Charles.
“The removal of Diana’s title had hurt her. The loss was designed to emphasise to her, and the world, that her royal days were over.”
Earl Spencer's comments about late Queen are 'incredibly unpleasant'
00:00 , Harriette BoucherEarl Spencer’s latest comment about the Queen are “incredibly unpleasant”, a royal commentator has said.
In his most recent memoir excerpt release on Friday, the Earl said the late Queen reacted “tetchily” to the news that Princess Diana had been in a car crash before she knew of the severity.
Asked if it sounded correct, Jennie Bond said told Sky News: “Look, I don’t know. This is the brother of Diana giving his version of what went on in his memory, but it is incredibly unpleasant.
“He is forthright in his condemnation of Charles and now questioning the Queen's attitude to it all.
“I find it incredibly hostile of Earl Spencer to do this. It is brutal, really, and I don’t know what his motive is and I cannot think who is going to benefit,” she said, adding: “Well, obviously his wallet will.
“What is the point of raking over this tragedy nearly 30 years on. It’s certainly isn’t I don't think what William and Harry would want.”
'We're not going to know who is telling the truth', says royal commentator
23:12 , Harriette BoucherThe public is “just not going to know” who is being truthful after Earl Spencer claimed that the King said Diana would be forgotten after she died, a royal commentator has stated.
Earl Spencer insisted he was “telling the truth” in an interview with BBC on Friday following backlash from Buckingham Palace.
Reacting to the claims, Jennie Bond said: “The big question now is whether anyone is going to come forward and corroborate his version of what went on and what was said.
“If that happens, that is big trouble for the palace because essentially Earl Spencer is accusing his former brother-in-law of lying.”
It comes after Buckingham Palace responded to the Earl’s claims, saying that the King is mindful that “grief can cloud reason”.
Asked about the “unprecedented” statement from the palace, Earl Spencer said: “Well, is he furious? Is he furious or is he embarrassed?.
He added that the palace had not denied his claims.”
“They've sort of smudged that one, haven't they? They've said that recollections may vary.”
Watch: William’s new battle as uncle and brother tell their ‘Diana Truth’
22:20 , Harriette BoucherAll of the claims Earl Spencer made about the King today
21:52 , Harriette BoucherFurther damaging claims about King Charles have been made in the latest excerpt from Earl Spencer’s book on Friday.
Princess Diana’s brother has insisted he is “telling the truth” as he faces backlash from Buckingham Palace over his allegations.
In his latest passage, the Earl has said a “lack of obvious care for Harry” following Diana’s death allowed him to “spin out of control”.
He also questioned why Charles was at Princess Diana’s funeral following their divorce the previous year, saying: “This ex-husband, from a marriage that had collapsed so bitterly… surely had no place at his ex’s funeral.”
Earl Spencer also wrote of how the late Queen reacted “tetchily” to the news that Princess Diana had been in a car crash before she knew the severity of the situation.
He claimed that some royal family members had “taken delight” in the removal of Diana’s HRH title.
In an interview with BBC aired on Friday, he suggested Charles was “embarrassed” about comments he made to the Earl in the days after Diana’s death.
Asked about Buckingham Palace’s response that “grief can cloud reason”, Earl Spencer told the BBC: “Is he (Charles) furious, or is he embarrassed? Because I can tell you, here and now, those are exactly the words he said.
“I’ve only ever had two calls on the line with Prince Charles at any stage of my life.
“I was hyper-alert to what he was saying, and those are precisely the words he said, and I promise that to you now, genuinely, that is what he said.“I don’t hear him saying he didn’t say that.”
Prince Harry said 'no child' should have to walk behind their mother's coffin
21:22 , Harriette BoucherPrince Harry has previously spoken about the experience of walking behind his mother’s coffin, saying no child “should be asked to do that under any circumstances”.
In an excerpt of his memoir, Earl Spencer wrote about how he fought plans for William and Harry, then aged 15 and 12, to walk behind their Diana’s coffin during the funeral procession.
The Earl is said to have insisted to the King that Diana would not have wanted her young sons to have made the difficult public walk.
“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,” Earl Spencer wrote.
In June 2017, the Duke of Sussex said: “My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television.
“I don’t think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don’t think it would happen today.”
In his memoir, Spare, the duke said he felt “numb” as he walked behind his mother’s coffin but was nearly brought to tears while listening to Sir Elton John perform during the service.
Friday's papers lead with royal controversy
20:46 , Harriette Boucher
In focus: Charles Spencer’s book is Diana’s unfinished business – Harry’s documentary will finish it
20:10 , Harriette BoucherAs Buckingham Palace hits back at the claims of King Charles’s reaction to the death of Diana, Dan Wakeford, former People editor and founder of the Celebrity Intelligence website, looks at why her brother is publishing his tell-all now, and how the next 12 months will be about settling scores:
This book is Diana’s unfinished business – Harry’s documentary will finish it
Royal expert suspects 'collusion' and 'guilt' drive Earl Spencer's bombshell claims
19:30 , Harriette BoucherEarl Spencer had 'no contact' with Charles after funeral procession spat
19:16 , Harriette BoucherEarl Spencer said he had “no contact” with King Charles until Diana’s funeral after he allegedly told him she would be forgotten soon.
Diana’s brother claimed that in a phone call with the King after her death, Charles went “ballistic” over funeral plan disagreements, before telling him “rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough”.
He wrote in his memoir: “I had no contact with Prince Charles since hanging up on him after he had disrespected Diana and disparaged our family’s sense of duty.”
On the day of her funeral, he said he “was shown into a sitting room where Prince Charles was seated, alone. He was polite and formal. Neither of us mentioned our phone call altercation. It was as if we had not seen or spoken to one another for an age.
“We talked about other matters – how my mother and elder sisters were coping, and the beauty of the weather that morning. That sort of thing.’
Royal family members took 'delight' in Diana's demotion
19:09 , Harriette BoucherEarl Spencer has claimed that some royal family members had “taken delight” in the removal of Diana’s HRH title.
Reflecting on her funeral in his tell-all memoir, he wrote: “I thought how some had supported her in life while others had taken delight in the demotion that had followed her divorce.
“I saw the face of Princess Michael, whom Diana had considered her ‘nightmare neighbour’ at Kensington Palace.
“She had accosted my sister after she was deprived of her HRH title, and said, with feigned kindness: ‘Don’t worry, Diana – you only need to curtsy to me when we are in public !’
“There was Princess Margaret, who had been a good ally of Diana till the Panorama interview had taken place.
“Margaret could never forgive what she viewed as an unforgivable act of treachery against the Royal Family and had chosen not to bow to Diana’s coffin when it had passed her that morning.”
Queen reacted 'tetchily' to news of Diana's car crash
18:50 , Harriette BoucherEarl Spencer has claimed the late Queen reacted “tetchily” to the news that Princess Diana had been in a car crash before she knew of the severity.
“When the Queen had heard the first news of Diana’s being in a traffic accident, she had asked tetchily, ‘What is she up to now?’ This, before the seriousness of it all became clear,” he wrote in his memoir.
The Earl added: “After Diana’s death the Queen said she wanted Diana’s coffin to be placed in the royal burial ground at Frogmore, near Windsor Castle.
“But my family was determined that Diana must come home to Althorp. We knew she would have wanted to do so. Besides, having had her HRH title removed as part of the package of humiliation handed to her at her divorce, almost a year to the day before her death, Diana was no longer eligible for royal Frogmore.”
In an excerpt released yesterday, he claimed that the Queen considered restoring his sister’s Her Royal Highness title, which she lost when she divorced Charles.
“The removal of Diana’s title had hurt her. The loss was designed to emphasise to her, and the world, that her royal days were over.”
Harry plays pickleball with children as controversy continues to cloud royals
18:37 , Harriette BoucherPrince Harry was out again in public today, playing pickleball with schoolchildren, as the royal family continues to be embattled by comments made by Earl Spencer.
The Duke of Sussex met with pupils at Ninestiles, an Academy, in Birmingham, to mark the launch of a new Invictus Games education scheme called Inspire.
Playing several rallies against children in Year 7 and Year 11, he joked his back was in pain after reaching for a low shot – and cried out “nice” when one of players won a point.
It comes as his father has been engulfed in a third day of controversy following the latest excerpt from Earl Spencer’s memoir.
He claimed that a “lack of obvious care for Harry” following his Diana’s death allowed the prince to “spin out of control” and said that “a more caring” hand would have helped him in the future.
The Earl has also insisted he is “telling the truth” in a interview with BBC following backlash from Buckingham Palace.
Following claims the King “sounded giddily elated – like a lottery winner” after Diana’s death, Earl Spencer insisted: “I can tell you here and now, those are exactly the words he said.
“I was hyper alert to what he was saying and those are precisely the words that he said and I promise that to you now. Genuinely, that is what he said. I don't hear him saying he didn't say that.”
In full: Earl Spencer insists ‘I am telling the truth’ after backlash over Charles’ alleged comments on Diana’s death
18:20 , Harriette Boucher
Earl Spencer insists ‘I am telling the truth’ over explosive Diana book
King went 'ballistic' during funeral procession row
18:07 , Harriette BoucherEarl Spencer has claimed the King went “ballistic” before telling him “rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough”, days after Diana’s death in 1997.
In an earlier excerpt, he wrote about how he fought plans for William and Harry to walk behind their mother’s coffin during the funeral procession, which caused a “stream of anger” from the King.
He told BBC: “He went ballistic, would be the right term, and started really going for my family as a whole, about their sense of duty, not being adequate enough, and ranted for a while, I have no idea how long, but it was a significant period, and I just listened.
“And then he stopped, and I thought, ‘Oh now he’s gonna pull himself together and say something more appropriate’, and then he said, ‘We’ll forget her soon enough’.”
He added: “I really was so stunned, and I just, after a stunned silence, I said, ‘I cannot believe you just said that’, and I hung up on him.”
The top five bombshell claims from Earl Spencer’s book so far
18:00 , Harriette Boucher
The top five bombshell claims from Earl Spencer’s book so far
King Charles had 'no place' at Diana's funeral
17:55 , Harriette BoucherEarl Spencer has questioned why Charles was at Princess Diana’s funeral following their divorce the previous year.
He wrote in his latest excerpt: “What was Prince Charles actually doing there?
“This ex-husband, from a marriage that had collapsed so bitterly… surely had no place at his ex’s funeral.
“Supporting his sons was the reason given for his prominent place, but what were the boys doing there, anyway? It all seemed mad to me.”
'Lack of care' led Harry 'to spin out of control' after Diana's death
17:35 , Harriette BoucherEarl Spencer has said a “lack of obvious care for Harry” following Diana’s death allowed him to “spin out of control”.
In the latest excerpt from his memoir released on Friday, the Earl said his “chief memory” after Diana’s funeral was “being concerned at the lack of obvious care for Harry, as he decompressed from the ghastliness of the morning.
“He needed Diana’s hugs, of course, and they would forever be denied him.
“But instead of calm and nurture, he was allowed to spin out of control.
“I have often looked back, reckoning that a more caring hand at such points as this would have helped him enormously in the future. Instead, he seemed so very alone in his despair and torment.”
Charles is 'embarrassed' about Earl's claims
17:22 , Harriette BoucherEarl Spencer has suggested Charles is “embarrassed” about comments the Earl claims the King made to him in the days after Diana’s death.
Asked about Buckingham Palace’s response to his claims, Earl Spencer told the BBC: “Is he (Charles) furious, or is he embarrassed? Because I can tell you, here and now, those are exactly the words he said.
“I’ve only ever had two calls on the line with Prince Charles at any stage of my life.
“I was hyper-alert to what he was saying, and those are precisely the words he said, and I promise that to you now, genuinely, that is what he said.“I don’t hear him saying he didn’t say that.”
Earl Spencer insists he's 'telling the truth' amid backlash
17:07 , Harriette BoucherEarl Spencer has defended his controversial memoir on his late sister Diana, insisting he’s “telling the truth” about a phone call with King Charles in the days after her death.
In an excerpt of the book, the Earl claimed King Charles “sounded giddily elated – like a lottery winner” on the phone with him.
He told BBC: “I can tell you here and now, those are exactly the words he said.
”I've only ever had two calls on the line with Prince Charles at any stage of my life.
“I was hyper alert to what he was saying and those are precisely the words that he said and I promise that to you now. Genuinely, that is what he said. I don't hear him saying he didn't say that.”
The Buckingham Palace said that the King is mindful that “grief can cloud reason” in response to the Earl’s claims.
Asked about the “unprecedented” statement from the palace, he said: “Well, is he furious? Is he furious or is he embarrassed?.
“They've sort of smudged that one, haven't they? They've said that recollections may vary.”
He said he had told his family and friends at the time what had been said “because it was so monstrous” when pressed on whether he had evidence to back up his allegations.
Kemi Badenoch backs King Charles in row
16:52 , Kate DevlinConservative leader Kemi Badenoch has reacted to claims about King Charles in Earl Spencer's memoir, saying: "I have a side and it's always on the side of His Majesty".
Her comments came in an interview with the BBC Newsnight's programme, broadcast tonight at 7pm.
Asked if Earl Spencer should have kept his thoughts to himself and not published his book, she said: “It's always very difficult for me to talk about the royal family. The King is my boss, now I'm the leader of His Majesty's loyal opposition...
“So I have a side and it's always on the side of His Majesty. I would reiterate exactly what it was that the King himself had said or certainly Buckingham Palace said on his behalf.”
She went on to say that it was “very painful to lose a close member of the family, but a lot of people also experienced that loss, including His Majesty and the Prince of Wales and Prince Harry as well.”
ICYMI: Further bombshell revelations expected at 5pm
16:40 , Suha KidwaiMore extracts from Earl Spencer’s controversial memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, are set to be released at 5pm.
Revelations from the book, currently being serialised by the Daily Mail before it is published next Tuesday, have already shocked the nation.
Some of the most damning excerpts that have been released so far have focused on the King’s conduct toward his former wife, Diana, before and after her death.
Read more here:
The top five bombshell claims from Earl Spencer’s book so far
Al Fayed abuse survivors brand Harrods compensation scheme 'an insult'
16:20 , Suha KidwaiA survivor of former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed has branded the department store's compensation scheme an "insult" and "a disgrace" as victims have gathered to protest outside the London store.
Cheska Hill-Wood, who was abused shortly after joining Harrods at age 19 in 1993, criticised the company for capping the redress scheme to a single year. "They gave survivors a time limit... It’s a disgrace," she told the Press Association.
Her comments come as law firm KP Law estimated total claims could reach £150 million – nearly triple the £51.8 million set aside by Harrods.
The scandal touches on historical ties between Al Fayed and the Royal Family. Before his son Dodi Fayed died alongside Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997, Al Fayed spent decades cultivating royal connections through charity sponsorships.
Relations between Al Fayed and the Royals fractured severely after the crash, leading the Royal Household to strip Harrods of its Royal Warrants.
Over 400 allegations ranging from sexual assault to human trafficking have been made against Al Fayed, with police continuing an investigation under Operation Cornpoppy.
Prince Harry breaks silence on ‘eventful’ UK return in first public appearance
16:00 , Suha KidwaiThe Duke of Sussex has described his return to Britain as "eventful" during his first public appearance since moving back from the US.
Speaking at the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards at Greenwich’s Old Royal Naval College on Thursday, Prince Harry declared it was "wonderful to be back on British soil" and to reunite with his "Invictus family".
Reflecting on his return, Harry told Hello! magazine: "The last two weeks have been… it’s been eventful. But, you know, we’re getting stuck into the work. Kids are in school. We’re happy."
Addressing military veterans at the black-tie ceremony, which featured appearances by James Corden, Jess Glynne, and Ross Kemp, Harry praised the resilience of the wounded service personnel.
"You may no longer wear the uniform, but you still lead," Harry said. "The Invictus spirit has something to teach all of us. This community doesn’t just demonstrate resilience. It helps build it.
Earl's claims: Public reaction to Diana's divorce was 'main worry'
15:40 , Suha KidwaiIn an excerpt from his memoir, Earl Spencer has said that the public’s reaction was his “main worry” when Diana shared that she was getting a divorce.
In an extract from the bombshell book serialised by the Daily Mail, he described his conversation with Diana: "I was silent for a moment. I had known things were bad, but not this bad."
The earl said he then told his sister his "main worry" was the public because he worried that "they won't forgive you".
"They've bought into a fairytale, and I reckon they may well - wrongly - blame you for destroying their fantasy," he told her.
Pictured: The Duke of Sussex attends launch of Invictus-games inspired education programme
15:20 , Suha Kidwai
William and Kate join Scottish islanders for game of Shinty
15:00 , Bryony Gooch
William and Kate join Scottish islanders for game of Shinty amid Diana book row
Royal expert suspects ‘collusion’ and ‘guilt’ behind Earl Spencer’s bombshell claims
14:40 , Suha KidwaiA royal expert has shared his thoughts on the motivations behind Earl Spencer’s “brutal” claims against Buckingham Palace.
Richard Fitzwilliams told The Independent he believes Earl Spencer is “haunted … by demons of himself” and that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had some part to play.
Emily Hennessy Smith reports:
Royal expert suspects ‘collusion’ and ‘guilt’ behind Earl Spencer’s bombshell claims
Charles called Diana 'chubby' after engagement, claims Spencer's memoir
14:20 , Suha KidwaiDiana suffered from an eating disorder which worsened after Charles called her “chubby,” Earl Spencer has claimed in his bombshell memoir.
In an extract from his book, serialised in the Daily Mail, the Earl claims that ahead of his sister’s wedding, Prince Charles had squeezed Diana’s waist and said, “Oh, a bit chubby here, aren't we?”
The earl said his sister found the comment "devastating," later telling him that her "waist shrank from 29 to 23 and a half inches between her engagement and her marriage," which were five months apart in 1981.
Watch: Royal Expert Suspects Collusion And Guilt Drive Earl Spencer's Bombshell Claims
14:00 , Bryony GoochThe top five claims from Earl Spencer’s book so far
13:40 , Bryony GoochThe top five bombshell claims from Earl Spencer’s book so far
Pictured: The Duke of Sussex arrives at the Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner & Awards
13:20 , Bryony Gooch
Royal expert Jennie Bond questions timing of Earl Spencer book release: ‘What purpose did it serve?’
13:01 , Bryony Gooch
Royal expert Jennie Bond questions timing of Earl Spencer book release
More extracts of Earl Spencer's memoir to be released at 5pm
12:30 , Bryony GoochFrom 5pm, more extracts of Earl Spencer’s bombshell memoir will be released.
It is being serialised in the Daily Mail ahead of its publication next week.
Some of latest allegations to come from the book are:
- King Charles “sounded giddily elated – like a lottery winner” on the phone with the Earl after Diana’s death.
- The King, then a prince, allegedly called the Earl in a “stream of anger” after it was suggested that Harry and William shouldn’t walk behind their mother’s coffin as part of the procession.
- The late Queen offered to restore Diana’s HRH title following her death at the funeral.
In pictures: King Charles III presents the King´s Medal for Music to Sir James MacMillan at Dumfries House
12:00 , Bryony Gooch
Diana’s ‘revenge dress’ showed her ‘taking back the narrative’ – fashion expert
11:32 , Bryony GoochThe symbolic “revenge dress” worn by Diana, Princess of Wales told the world that she was “taking back the narrative”, a fashion expert has said.
The black silk gown was unveiled in Mayfair, central London, before it goes on sale at auction, where it is expected to fetch upwards of £220,000.
It comes as Diana has been back in the headlines amid a war of words between Buckingham Palace and Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, whose book serialised in the Daily Mail has levelled accusations at the King.
Morgane Halimi, global head of handbags and fashion at Sotheby’s, the auction house where the dress will go under the hammer, said: “What makes it so particular is the moment she chose to wear this dress, it was a moment in her life where she was exposed and she could have seemed fragile.
“But instead, she chose to wear this dress to express a form of self-confidence and to express to the world that she was taking back the narrative.”
In pictures: Princess Diana's 'revenge dress' arranged ahead of first public display since 1997
11:00 , Bryony Gooch
Watch: King Charles issues rare response to Earl Spencer’s Diana book claims
10:43 , Bryony GoochRecap: The Queen offered to restore Diana's honorifics posthumously
10:20 , Bryony GoochQueen Elizabeth II offered to restore Diana’s HRH title at her funeral, Earl Spencer has claimed.
The Earl wrote he rejected the late Queen’s “well-meaning” gesture to restore Diana’s HRH title posthumously as it felt like a “consolation award”. He claimed his sister was “dreadfully hurt” by the “petty and vindictive” decision to remove her title, and just hours after her funeral she offered to restore it.
“I felt that I knew in my bones how she would view this posthumous award,” he writes. “That's very kind of the Queen, of course. But what's the point, Robert? Now? I mean – Diana's dead.”
He said that just hours after his eulogy at Diana’s funeral, the late Queen’s private secretary Robert Fellowes beckoned him into a quiet corner of the carriage.
“I have just received a call from Her Majesty… and she would like to offer Diana her HRH title back,” he wrote Mr Fellowes as saying.
While the Earl later wondered if he was right to reject the award, he felt “the title should never have been removed during her life, in which case it would not have been necessary to offer it to her in death.”
In pictures: King Charles attends London Fashion Week
10:00 , Bryony Gooch
The top five bombshell claims from Earl Spencer’s book so far
09:45 , Bryony GoochThe top five bombshell claims from Earl Spencer’s book so far
Watch: Prince Harry seen for first time in public since returning to UK
09:30 , Bryony GoochInside Charles Spencer’s complicated bond with his sister Diana
09:14 , Bryony Gooch
How close was Charles Spencer to his sister Diana? Inside their complicated bond
Diana's 'revenge dress' to go on public display for first time since 1997
08:48 , Bryony GoochIn London on Friday, Sotheby’s will host a media call for the first public display since 1997 of Diana’s black silk Christina Stambolian “revenge dress”.
The dress, worn by Diana after her then-estranged husband Charles admitted to committing adultery during their marriage, is expected to fetch up to £220,000 when it goes under the hammer in December.
Prince Harry to parttake in school visit in launch of Inspire education programme
08:30 , Bryony GoochHarry is set to join Invictus Games alumni and pupils for a school visit and the launch of the Inspire education programme for Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 on Friday.
On Thursday he made his first public appearance since moving back to the UK at the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in London.
Watch: William and Kate drive tractor to help clear trash from beach
08:10 , Bryony GoochIn pictures: Prince and Princess of Wales carry out engagements amid Earl Spencer's bombshell book serialisation
07:45 , Bryony Gooch
Prince Harry says nothing of Earl Spencer's book in first public appearance since returning to the UK
07:37 , Bryony GoochPrince Harry was seen for the first time in public since returning to the UK when he attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in London.
As he attended the event, after the King emphasised he was no longer a working member of the royal family, he said little of the bombshell revelations in his uncle’s book.
The Duke of Sussex has remained close to Earl Spencer as his relationship with the Windsors has grown strained.
Prince Harry makes first public appearance since returning to UK
07:30 , Bryony Gooch
Prince Harry attends first public engagement since returning to the UK
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.”
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