Summary (tl;dr)

Earl Spencer's new memoir includes a controversial claim that King Charles, then Prince of Wales, told him in 1997 that the royal family would "forget" Princess Diana "soon enough," leading to a rare public response from Buckingham Palace.

Essential Background

The trending keywords relate to the aftermath of Princess Diana's tragic death in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. Her funeral and the arrangements for her young sons, Princes William and Harry, to walk behind her coffin were a deeply emotional and publicly scrutinized event. Charles Spencer is Diana's younger brother.

The Full Story

King Charles and Earl Spencer are trending due to revelations from Spencer's forthcoming memoir, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," which is being serialized. In the book, Earl Spencer alleges a heated phone conversation with King Charles (then Prince Charles) days after Diana's death. Spencer claims that during a disagreement over whether Princes William and Harry should walk behind their mother's coffin at her funeral, Charles "unleashed" his "pent-up contempt for Diana" and remarked, "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough!". Buckingham Palace has issued an unusual public statement in response, refraining from a direct denial but suggesting that "the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.". The book is scheduled for full publication on September 22..

Why It Matters

This story is significant because it reopens discussions about the Royal Family's reactions to Princess Diana's death nearly three decades ago and the emotional impact on those involved. The rare public response from Buckingham Palace highlights the gravity of the allegations and their potential to influence public perception of King Charles and the monarchy. The claims touch upon sensitive historical events and personal relationships within the Royal Family, reigniting public interest and debate.

Geographic Location

• London, England, United Kingdom (location of Buckingham Palace's statement regarding the memoir)
• Paris, France (location of Princess Diana's death in 1997, a key background event)