30 Years After Diana’s Death, New Book Fuels Royal Family Tensions

Nearly 30 years after the sudden and tragic death of Princess of Wales Diana, it has become clear once again that the wounds surrounding her memory have not fully healed. The publication of a new memoir by Ms. Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, has triggered a bitter war of words between the British royal family and the Spencer family.

Titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, the new book contains serious allegations against the royal family, particularly the current King Charles III. According to the book, then-Prince Charles allegedly told Spencer over the phone after Ms. Diana’s death, “We will forget her very quickly.” Spencer also claims that Charles’s voice sounded “overly cheerful”, like that of someone who had won the lottery, after hearing about the death of his sister.

The royal family usually does not respond directly to such claims. However, Buckingham Palace has broken its silence this time. The palace has strongly rejected Earl Spencer’s claim as unfounded and untrue. In a statement, Buckingham Palace suggested that deep grief after the loss of a loved one can sometimes affect a person’s memory and judgment.

Ms. Diana died in a tragic car crash in Paris in the summer of 1997. Following her death, public anger towards the royal family reached an intense level. Earl Spencer’s explosive speech at Ms. Diana’s funeral left the atmosphere inside Westminster Abbey in silence.

Royal experts and historians say the publication of the memoir, ahead of the 30th anniversary of Princess Ms. Diana’s death next year, has created a fresh challenge to the royal family’s efforts to rebuild its image over the past three decades.

However, according to a recent YouGov opinion poll, the British public is divided over the issue. Some 31 percent said they believed Earl Spencer, while 36 percent sided with the royal family and 33 percent remained uncertain.

Overall, the new book shows that the trauma surrounding Ms. Diana’s memory has not only affected the lives of her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, but that the entire royal family and the Spencer family also continue to live under the shadow of the past.