King Charles Responds to Criticism From Princess Diana’s Brother

LONDON — Britain’s King Charles has issued an unusual public response to criticism from Charles Spencer, the brother of his late first wife, Princess Diana, concerning events following Diana’s death in 1997.

Buckingham Palace said that grief can affect reason, judgment and memory, after reports emerged of allegations contained in Spencer’s forthcoming memoir about the then-Prince Charles’ conduct in the days surrounding Diana’s funeral.

According to reports about the memoir, Spencer alleges that Charles made a remark to him during an argument over arrangements for Diana’s funeral, saying, “rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” The reported disagreement concerned whether Diana’s sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, should walk behind their mother’s coffin during the funeral procession.

Spencer, who was Diana’s younger brother, reportedly opposed the boys taking part in the procession. William was 15 and Harry was 12 at the time of their mother’s death.

Buckingham Palace did not directly address the specific allegation. A palace spokesperson said the King was mindful that “the pain of fraternal grief” could affect a person’s reason, judgment and recollection, particularly many years after a loss.

Diana died at the age of 36 in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. The vehicle carrying her and Dodi al-Fayed crashed while being pursued by paparazzi photographers. Her death prompted a huge public outpouring of grief in Britain and internationally.

Diana had married the then-Prince Charles in 1981. Their marriage later deteriorated and the couple divorced in 1996, a year before her death.

Spencer’s forthcoming memoir, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” is intended to present Diana’s life and legacy from her brother’s perspective. Spencer has said the purpose of the book is to tell what he regards as the truth about his sister while speaking on her behalf in a positive manner.

The exchange marks a rare public intervention by Buckingham Palace concerning personal recollections surrounding Diana’s death and the events that followed it. The allegations remain Spencer’s account of events and have not been independently established by the palace.

The controversy comes nearly three decades after Diana’s death, as renewed public interest in her life continues through biographies, documentaries, archival material and other accounts from people close to the former Princess of Wales.