Buckingham Palace has taken the rare step of publicly rebutting a claim made in an upcoming memoir by Earl Spencer, describing an allegation regarding King Charles’s views on the legacy of the late Princess Diana as “categorically untrue”.
The denial follows the serialisation of extracts from the Earl’s new book, reportedly titled The Last of the Spencers, which is scheduled for publication on 24 September 2026. In the manuscript, Charles Spencer alleges that the then-Prince of Wales suggested his former wife would be forgotten “soon enough” following their separation.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace issued a formal statement on 16 September 2026, making it clear that the phrasing attributed to the King was false. While the Palace traditionally maintains a “no comment” policy regarding private memoirs and family biographies, officials have opted to address this specific claim due to its sensitive nature.
The move marks a notable departure from the “never complain, never explain” mantra often associated with the late Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, suggesting a more proactive approach to media management under the current monarch when historical accuracy is disputed.
The book is said to draw on the Earl’s contemporary diaries and personal notes. Charles Spencer, the younger brother of the late Princess of Wales, has been a vocal guardian of his sister’s memory for nearly three decades, most famously during his oration at her funeral in 1997, where he pledged that her “blood family” would continue to protect her.
According to reporting from ITV News, the Palace’s decision to issue a “hit back” response indicates the level of concern regarding the potential impact of the claim on the King’s reputation.
No legal action has been announced by the Royal Household at this stage. The Earl has not yet publicly responded to the Palace’s rebuttal.
The publication of the memoir comes at a time of continued public interest in the history of the Spencer and Windsor families. The book is expected to be a major release in the autumn publishing market, though it remains to be seen if other disputed claims will emerge once the full text is available to the public later this month.