King Charles Was ‘Elated’ When Princess Diana Died, Her Brother Charles Spencer Says in New Book

Nearly three decades after Princess Diana's death, her brother is offering a rare, unflinching account of the days that followed — including a phone call with King Charles that has stunned royal watchers.

Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, is opening up about how he learned of his sister's tragic death, and revealing new details about the tense days that followed. The beloved royal died following a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997.

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997) sitting on a step at her home, Highgrove House, in Doughton, Gloucestershire, on July 18, 1986. | Source: Getty Images

In an excerpt from his upcoming book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," published by the Daily Mail on Thursday, September 17, the 9th Earl Spencer, 62, describes the moment he first learned of the crash.

At the time, Spencer was at his home in Cape Town, South Africa, when his sister Jane phoned to tell him about the accident, though its severity wasn't immediately clear. Jane later called back to confirm that Diana had died.

As word spread, Spencer recalled fielding a flood of calls, one of which stood out for how strikingly different it felt from the rest. "The phone rang constantly. Prince Charles caught me as I crossed the landing upstairs," Spencer wrote.

He continued, "Unlike my other callers, who were stunned, barely able to articulate their condolences and offers of help, he sounded giddily elated — like a lottery winner, I remember thinking at the time."

One of thousands of small shrines left in the streets of London by the public during the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997) in London, on September 6, 1997. | Source: Getty Images

Spencer went on to describe how King Charles, now 77, explained that he had already broken the news to Prince William and Prince Harry, then just 15 and 12 years old.

"He let me know he had informed William and Harry of their mother's death, first thing that morning, in their bedrooms at Balmoral. It all sounded strangely matter-of-fact, given the enormity of the disaster," Spencer wrote.

Prince Harry, Prince Charles, Earl Spencer and Prince William at Westminster Abbey for the funeral service for Diana, Princess of Wales, on September 6, 1997. | Source: Getty Images

Reflecting on that exchange, Spencer offered a pointed interpretation of the king's state of mind at the time.

"Looking back now, I suspect the prince's first reaction must have been to think more of how this event might free him to marry the woman he loved, rather than appreciating the loss of one he did not," he continued, referencing King Charles's relationship with his now-wife of 20 years, Queen Camilla.

"It can be hard to feel too much sympathy for an ex-spouse, or those who care for them profoundly, after bitter divorce," Spencer added. As the family's designated point of contact for funeral arrangements, he found himself navigating not just grief, but palace politics.

Earl Spencer lays flowers on the island in the grounds of the Spencer family home at Althorp, Northamptonshire, on September 8, 1997, where his sister Diana, Princess of Wales was buried. | Source: Getty Images

Elsewhere in the excerpt, while recounting the planning of Diana's funeral, Spencer wrote bluntly, "There were others in the Palace, I already knew, who were relieved — indeed, pleased — that she had gone."

Tensions escalated further after Spencer objected to a plan, relayed by a palace aide, for William and Harry to walk behind their mother's coffin during the funeral procession.

King Charles reportedly called him directly to address the disagreement, opening with, "I gather you've got a problem with the funeral arrangements." The conversation quickly grew heated.

Earl Spencer, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh follow the coffin to the funeral cortege of Diana, Princess of Wales as it arrives at Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

"Prince Charles continued his stream of anger, without me interrupting," Spencer recalled.

"Then he stopped. I assumed the pause signaled an effort to bring himself under control, but then he unleashed down the phone what I have always taken to be his pent-up contempt for Diana, and his horror that the world was so bowled over by her death."

A multi-colored sea of floral tributes to Diana, Princess of Wales, lie outside the gates of her London home on September 6, 1997. | Source: Getty Images

According to Spencer, the king then delivered a chilling line:

Following the Daily Mail's publication of the excerpt, Buckingham Palace issued a rare statement in response.

"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," a spokesperson said.

"Swan Song: Diana, My Sister" was first announced last month and is scheduled for release on September 22, 2026.