Earl Spencer Says He Knows More About King Charles But Insists He Is Not Making a Threat

Earl Spencer has insisted he was not threatening King Charles after telling Laura Kuenssberg during a BBC interview that he “knows lots of things” about the monarch that he deliberately chose not to reveal in his new book about Princess Diana.

The remark came during an interview filmed at Spencer’s home at Althorp House in Northamptonshire, ahead of the publication of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister on September 22.

The book has already triggered an unusually public dispute with Buckingham Palace over Spencer’s account of events following Diana’s death in 1997.

Spencer says he has more information about the King

During the BBC interview, Kuenssberg questioned Spencer about the allegations contained in his memoir, including his claim that the then Prince Charles told him shortly after Diana’s death that she would “soon be forgotten.”

Spencer said he had deliberately left other information about Charles out of the book because he did not consider it relevant.

“This is not a threat, it’s a fact. I know lots of things about the King, which I chose not to include in the book because they were not relevant,” he said.

He then explained that he viewed the memoir through the perspective of his work as a historian and said he felt it was his responsibility to set out what he believed happened.

“I’m a historian, I’ve worked for decent news organisations like yourselves [the BBC], and it’s just my duty to lay it out,” Spencer said.

He added that there was a reason the disputed words had appeared in his eulogy for Diana.

Kuenssberg challenges him over the remark

Kuenssberg appeared taken aback by Spencer’s choice of words and directly questioned whether mentioning undisclosed information about the King sounded like a threat.

“Sounds a bit like a threat, if you’re saying you know other things about the King that could be damaging to him?” she asked.

Spencer rejected that interpretation.

“No, not at all a threat. It’s just the reality,” he replied, stressing that he wanted to provide context for what he had included in the book — and what he had deliberately left out.

He also rejected the suggestion that he was interested in sensationalising the Royal Family.

“I’ve got no interest – I’m not a salacious writer on any level,” Spencer said.

He argued that if his intention had been to publish damaging or sensational material, he could have included far more information.

“If I was a salacious writer and wanted to write that sort of thing, I have plenty of other things I could have said and really have no interest in doing so,” he added.

The disputed claim at the centre of the memoir

One of the most controversial passages in Swan Song: Diana, My Sister concerns an alleged conversation between Spencer and Charles in the aftermath of Diana’s death.

According to Spencer’s account, the disagreement centred on plans for Prince William, then 15, and Prince Harry, then 12, to walk behind their mother’s coffin during her funeral procession.

Spencer says he opposed the idea and believed Diana would not have wanted her sons to endure the experience. He claims that during a heated conversation, Charles told him: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”

The claim has been strongly disputed by Buckingham Palace.

In an unusually direct response, the Palace said that the King was mindful that “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory” many years after a loss.

Spencer has nevertheless continued to stand by his recollection, insisting that he is telling the truth and that the words were exactly what he remembers Charles saying.

“Will you say more?”

As the BBC interview drew to a close, Kuenssberg returned to the question of family secrets.

She suggested that some people might believe certain matters are better left unsaid, even within families.

Spencer agreed.

“They certainly are and they have been left unsaid,” he said.

But when Kuenssberg asked whether he would ever reveal more, Spencer gave a much shorter answer.

“Nope. That’s it, that’s me done.”

His comments come as anticipation builds around Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which is due to be published on September 22. The memoir recounts Spencer’s memories of Diana and the events surrounding her death, while several of its claims have already prompted public disagreement between Diana’s brother and the Palace.