Earl Spencer has made another extraordinary claim in his forthcoming memoir that King Charles told him he was “lucky” to inherit the family estate at such a young age – on the very day of his father’s funeral in 1992.
Princess Diana’s brother, 62, alleges the then-Prince of Wales made the remark after the death of John Spencer, the 8th Earl, who died suddenly aged 68.
The account appears in Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which Earl Spencer describes as “the most intimate, loving and honest portrait yet” of his late sister.
The memoir is due to hit the shelves on Tuesday, and the Earl is set to elaborate on his claims in a BBC interview being broadcast this evening.
Given the extraordinary allegations, Buckingham Palace took the unusual step of publicly responding, while critics have accused the Earl of profiting from Diana’s memory.
The latest alleged exchange took place in the Althorp Estate’s sitting room, where the Earl, Prince Charles and Princess Diana had gathered “rather awkwardly” following the funeral service at a Northamptonshire church.
Earl Spencer recounts in the book that he had been sharing how deeply moved he was watching his father’s coffin carried by long-serving staff, which had brought him to tears.
It was at that moment, he writes, that the then-Prince of Wales interjected: “You’re so lucky!”
Earl Spencer has made another extraordinary claim in his forthcoming memoir that King Charles told him he was ‘lucky’ to inherit the family estate at such a young age – on the very day of his father’s funeral in 1992
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PA//BBC
When the Earl questioned what he meant, Prince Charles allegedly pressed on, telling him: “You’re just so lucky you know, inheriting when you’re so young!”
The future monarch, then 43, reportedly grew more animated, grumbling that despite employing 50 people, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip continued to treat him as though he were a child.
“At this he stamped his foot in emphasis,” Earl Spencer writes. “I have to say, very much like a child; and a petulant one, at that.”
The feud began earlier this week following accusations the King told the Earl that Diana would be forgotten “soon enough”.
Earl Spencer has made a series of strong allegations against the King in his upcoming memoir | INSTAGRAM: @CHARLES.EARL.SPENCER
Buckingham Palace then took the rare step of directly addressing the Earl’s allegations.
“His Majesty is mindful 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,” a spokesman told GB News.
But Thursday brought further shocking revelations.
It is claimed the King was left “giddily elated” and sounded “like a lottery winner” during a phone call on the night of Diana’s death, according to the Earl’s memoir.
And when the King told Earl Spencer that he had already informed Princes William and Harry of their mother’s death, Diana’s brother writes: “It all sounded strangely matter-of-fact, given the enormity of the disaster.”
Earl Charles Spencer’s explosive new memoir alleges that King Charles, just days after Princess Diana’s death, told her brother: ‘Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough’ | GETTY
Earl Spencer also says that he felt the King’s initial reaction “must have been to think more of how this event might free him to marry the woman he loved” as opposed to “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,” he added.
Staggeringly, the Earl even went a step further in claiming that, on the eve of his wedding to Diana, Charles had told her “he was very happy to marry her, but he was not actually in love with her.”
The late Princess of Wales’ brother described the news as a “hammer blow” to Diana, who he says felt “certain” that the heir to the throne was entering their marriage “with his heart elsewhere”.
He then doubled down on his claims in a BBC interview – which will air in full later tonight – insisting that he was “telling the truth” and calling Charles’ comments “monstrous”.
And, in spite of the criticism, the Earl maintained his sister would be “cheering from the rafters” at its publication – regardless of the chaos that has ensued.