Charles Spencer has confirmed that he has spoken with both of his nephews, Prince William and Prince Harry, since the release of his Princess Diana memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister. The 9th Earl Spencer, who is Diana’s younger brother, made the disclosure during an interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings on Monday, September 28, 2026.
The confirmation follows weeks of speculation about how the royal family has reacted to the memoir, which was published on September 22, 2026. Spencer told PEOPLE earlier in September that he informed William, Harry, and his sisters Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes about the book “exactly the same time,” and said Harry was “completely fine about it.”
Charles Spencer Addresses Contact With Prince William and Prince Harry
During the CBS Mornings interview, Gayle King asked Spencer directly whether he had spoken to his nephews after the book’s release. Spencer replied simply, “Yes, I have.”
When King followed up by asking whether his nephews “approve” of the book, Spencer was more cautious: “I don’t know. I haven’t asked about approval.” He recounted that Harry had asked him whether there was “anything in there that would be embarrassing to me,” to which Spencer said he replied, “Absolutely not.”
Spencer also explained why he had kept the book secret from his family during the writing process. “I decided not to have anyone involved in the book, so no one knew about it except my wife, obviously, and the publishers,” he said. “I didn’t tell any of the family until just before it was released publicly as a thing because I didn’t want anyone to think — particularly with Harry, who people know I had to stay in the summer — that he was in any way involved in this. It was really important for me that they weren’t.”
The interview did not specify when the post-publication conversations took place or whether they involved both nephews directly. Spencer’s comments confirm contact occurred but do not detail the nature or content of those conversations beyond his assurance that the book does not compromise their privacy.
What Charles Spencer Told William and Harry About the Memoir
Before the book’s release, Spencer gave an exclusive interview to PEOPLE at Althorp, the Spencer family’s ancestral home and Diana’s final resting place. In that interview, he revealed that he had told all four family members — William, Harry, Lady Sarah, and Lady Jane — about the memoir simultaneously.
“All I would say is one was…” Spencer began, trailing off before clarifying: “So all four of them [William and Harry and Sarah and Jane], I told them exactly the same time. And I can say that Harry is completely fine about it.”
Spencer said Harry’s primary concern was whether the book contained anything embarrassing about him. “He said, ‘I hope there’s nothing embarrassing about him in it.’ I said, ‘There isn’t,'” Spencer recounted.
He also acknowledged that both nephews might have been concerned about how their father, King Charles, was portrayed. “Yeah, that was a concern,” Spencer admitted. “I mean, I don’t want this to sound loaded, but there was an awful lot I could have put in and I didn’t. If I wanted to write a scandalous book about Prince Charles or King Charles as he is now, it would really be a jaw-dropper, but I’m not here to do that.”
Spencer added that he believed his sisters were “still digesting” their reactions to the book, despite his assurance that it is a “pure celebration” of Diana. “I think they were hurt that I hadn’t told them, to be honest,” he said. “I said, ‘I was going to hurt you either way, because I was either going to tell you and still write it how I wanted it. It wasn’t going to be a committee effort.'”
What Is Swan Song: Diana, My Sister?
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is Charles Spencer’s memoir about his older sister, Princess Diana. The book was published on September 22, 2026, by Penguin Michael Joseph. It is available in hardback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
Spencer, who is three years younger than Diana, has described the book as the “most personal” of the ten books he has written. He said he was inspired to write it after being “inundated” with requests for interviews as the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death approaches in 2027.
“The aim of this book is to tell the truth about Diana from her brother’s perspective, just as I attempted to do when speaking at her funeral,” Spencer said in a press release. “As with my eulogy, I want to speak on Diana’s behalf and do so in an openly positive way.”
Spencer has emphasized that the memoir is intended as a tribute rather than a scandal-focused book. In an Instagram post after recording the audiobook, he wrote: “At heart, this is a brother’s simple tribute to an extraordinary sister.”
What Has Prince William Said About the Book?
Prince William has not issued any public statement about his uncle’s memoir. He has not commented directly, responded through a spokesperson, or answered reporters’ questions about the book.
Reports citing unnamed royal sources have claimed that William is “absolutely furious” about the memoir and remains “firmly on his father’s side.” Royal commentator Mark Dolan claimed on a podcast that his “royal sources” told him William was “disgusted” by the book’s contents. However, these claims about William’s private reaction have not been independently verified, and there has been no public confirmation from William or Kensington Palace.
Other reports have suggested William is concerned about the stress the book may place on King Charles, who is reportedly undergoing cancer treatment. An unnamed source told Yahoo Lifestyle that William “will never forgive” Spencer for “putting the king through this.” These reports rely on anonymous sources and should be treated with caution.
What Has Prince Harry Said About the Book?
Prince Harry has also remained publicly silent about the memoir. During his first public outing after relocating back to the U.K., Harry was asked about the book but did not address the claims. Instead, he told reporters, “It’s good to be back on British soil.”
A source close to Harry told the Daily Mail that Harry was “aware” of his uncle’s book but had not read it. Another insider told Page Six that “Harry knew what was in the book — it didn’t come as a shock.”
Spencer’s characterization that Harry was “completely fine” with the memoir is his own account of a private conversation. Harry himself has not publicly confirmed or commented on his feelings about the book.
Why Spencer’s Relationship With William and Harry Matters
Charles Spencer is Princess Diana’s younger brother and the uncle of Prince William and Prince Harry. He played a significant public role in Diana’s funeral in September 1997, delivering a eulogy that was widely praised for its emotional honesty and criticism of the press.
Spencer has publicly addressed his relationship with his nephews amid their ongoing estrangement. In an interview with the BBC, he said: “I think there is a perception in the media that I am on Harry’s side. Well, I’m on my deceased sister’s sons’ side, both of them. And if either of them wanted anything, then I’d be equally there for them. And I never get involved in one camp or the other, except as a benign figure, I hope.”
He added that he hopes the rift between William and Harry will one day be “resolved,” saying: “I certainly don’t know what’s been done in the finer detail and so I would feel intrusive if I got more involved than to say of course a mother would want her two sons to be happy together and love each other.”
Spencer’s role as Diana’s brother gives him a unique perspective on her life and the events surrounding her death, but it also places him at the center of a family dynamic that has been publicly strained for years.
What the Memoir Says About Princess Diana’s Final Years
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister contains several claims that have drawn significant attention. Spencer’s account of a heated phone call with then-Prince Charles about whether William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin has been widely reported.
According to Spencer’s account, Charles became enraged during the conversation and said: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” Spencer also claims that Charles sounded “giddily elated — like a lottery winner” when telling him that Diana had died. He has said he believes Diana’s death gave Charles an opportunity to marry Camilla Parker Bowles.
Spencer has also written about his opposition to William and Harry walking in the funeral procession. He told PEOPLE: “I remember saying, ‘Well, as long as they haven’t been dragooned into it.’ Obviously they shouldn’t have walked. Nobody now can possibly think that was the right thing to do.” When asked if he felt guilt about not stopping the procession, Spencer said: “Yeah, I have actually. And about 10 years ago, well, on the 20th anniversary, we sort of chatted a bit about it, but I don’t think there’s anyone alive who thinks that was a good idea now.”
These are Spencer’s recollections and interpretations of events. They have not been independently established as fact.
Buckingham Palace’s Response
Buckingham Palace issued a rare response to the claims in Spencer’s memoir, stating: “While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss.”
Spencer reacted strongly to the palace statement. In an interview with ABC News, he said he was “really upset” and accused King Charles of “gaslighting” him. “Well, it’s not every day you’re gaslit by a king, but I was really upset with that because I thought it was very, not only condescending, but not straight,” Spencer said. “What I said is straight and true. And what did they come back with? That. It doesn’t say he didn’t say it either. That’s what I found interesting. I was really shocked, actually.”
Spencer also suggested the palace response questioned his memory rather than denying the claim directly. The palace’s statement did not explicitly deny that Charles made the remark, instead emphasizing how grief can affect memory.
Diana’s 1997 Funeral and William and Harry
Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, at the age of 36. Her funeral took place on September 6, 1997, at Westminster Abbey.
Prince William, then 15, and Prince Harry, then 12, walked behind their mother’s coffin in the funeral procession through London. The decision was controversial at the time, with many questioning whether children so young should have been subjected to such a public ordeal.
Both William and Harry have said the decision was a collective family choice. In the 2017 BBC documentary Diana, 7 Days, William said: “It wasn’t an easy decision, and it was a collective family decision to do that.”
Spencer has long maintained that he opposed the decision and tried to prevent it. In the memoir, he revisits this period and his concerns about the impact on his nephews.
Why the Memoir Is Receiving Attention in 2026
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister has drawn widespread attention for several reasons. Spencer occupies a unique position as Diana’s brother and a firsthand witness to many of the events he describes. The memoir is being published ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2027, a milestone that will likely generate renewed public interest in her life and legacy.
The book also arrives amid ongoing public scrutiny of the royal family’s internal relationships, including the estrangement between William and Harry and the strained relations between Harry and his father. Spencer’s claims about King Charles’s conduct in the aftermath of Diana’s death have added a new dimension to these ongoing narratives.
The memoir topped Amazon’s bestseller list upon release, and excerpts published in the Daily Mail dominated newspaper front pages for nearly a week before publication.
Timeline
August 31, 1997 — Princess Diana dies in a car crash in Paris.
September 6, 1997 — Diana’s funeral takes place. William and Harry walk behind her coffin.
September 2026 — Charles Spencer publishes Swan Song: Diana, My Sister on September 22.
Before publication — Spencer tells William, Harry, Lady Sarah, and Lady Jane about the memoir “exactly the same time.”
September 2026 — Buckingham Palace issues a rare statement responding to Spencer’s claims about King Charles.
September 28, 2026 — Spencer confirms on CBS Mornings that he has spoken to William and Harry since the book’s release.
2027 — The 30th anniversary of Diana’s death approaches.
FAQ Section
Who is Charles Spencer?
Charles Spencer is the 9th Earl Spencer and the younger brother of Princess Diana. He is the uncle of Prince William and Prince Harry. He has written multiple books and manages the Spencer family estate at Althorp, where Diana is buried.
What is Charles Spencer’s book about?
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is a memoir about Princess Diana, told from her brother’s perspective. It covers their childhood, Diana’s marriage to then-Prince Charles, the aftermath of her death, and Spencer’s recollections of the 1997 funeral.
What is Swan Song: Diana, My Sister?
It is Charles Spencer’s memoir about his sister, Princess Diana, published on September 22, 2026. Spencer has described it as a tribute and the “most personal” of his books.
Did Charles Spencer tell Prince William and Prince Harry about the memoir?
Yes. Spencer told PEOPLE that he informed William, Harry, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and Lady Jane Fellowes about the book “exactly the same time.”
What has Prince Harry said about Charles Spencer’s memoir?
Harry has not publicly commented on the book. Spencer has said Harry was “completely fine” with it and asked only whether there was anything embarrassing about him in it. Spencer assured him there was not.
Has Prince William publicly commented on the book?
No. William has not issued any public statement about the memoir. Reports citing unnamed sources have claimed he is angry about it, but these have not been verified.
When was Swan Song: Diana, My Sister released?
The book was published on September 22, 2026.