Charles Spencer accuses King Charles III and criticizes the royal family in his book about Diana

Charles Spencer, the brother of Princess Diana, makes a series of accusations against the British royal family in his book “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” published Tuesday in the United Kingdom, France and other countries. The book is being released nearly 30 years after Diana’s death in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997.

Spencer claims that King Charles III, Diana’s former husband, reacted with apparent detachment after learning of the crash and that he viewed the princess’s death as an opportunity to marry Camilla. He also recounts a dispute over Princes William and Harry taking part in the funeral procession and claims that Charles showed contempt for Diana.

Buckingham Palace publicly rejected these accounts in a rare response, saying that grief and the passage of time can affect memories. Charles Spencer has nevertheless stood by his accusations and criticized the royal family for challenging his testimony.

The book also includes claims about Diana’s suicidal thoughts, tensions in her marriage, Queen Elizabeth II’s reaction after the crash and the princess’s relationship with Dodi Al-Fayed. Spencer also criticizes the British tabloids and draws a parallel between the treatment of Diana and that of Harry and Meghan. Translation rights for the book have been purchased in 12 languages.