Charles Spencer Weighs in on Prince William and Prince Harry’s Ongoing Rift

Diana's brother says he would be there for either of her sons without hesitation, even as the pair remain estranged. He also shared what he believes his late sister would have wanted for William and Harry today.

Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's younger brother, is not taking any sides. The 9th Earl Spencer recently opened up about his nephews Prince William and Prince Harry and the rift that followed Harry's royal exit in 2020.

Lord Charles Spencer poses before discussing and signing copies of his book "Killers of the King : The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I" at the British American Business Council Los Angeles Distinguished Speaker Series special book signing event with Lord Charles Spencer at the Viceroy Hotel on March 3, 2015 in Santa Monica, California. | Source: Getty Images

Spencer, 62, sat down with the BBC for an interview, released in full on Sunday, September 20, to discuss his new book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," which hit shelves on September 22.

When asked for his take on the strained relationship between William, 44, and Harry, 42, Spencer said, "I think there's this 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 continued.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (L) and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend the unveiling of a statue of their mother, Princess Diana, at The Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace, London on July 1, 2021, which would have been her 60th birthday. | Source: Getty Images

Spencer went on to tell the BBC that there are a "lot of reasons on both sides" why the brothers' relationship "got to this stage," before sharing, "I hope one day it's resolved. But I don't know all."

"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," he added.

Princess Diana, Princess of Wales with her sons Prince William and Prince Harry attend the Heads of State VE Remembrance Service in Hyde Park on May 7, 1995 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997 at the age of 36. At the time, Prince William was just 15 years old, while Prince Harry was 12. Sources recently revealed that the brothers remain estranged, with no direct contact between them.

Although Harry has expressed a desire to reconcile, sources close to Prince William and his wife, Princess Catherine, said the hurt behind the brothers' falling-out remains profound.

"It was very hard on them, and I wouldn't blame William for being cautious," one close palace source said.

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Spencer's comments come after early excerpts from his book grabbed headlines last week, including his claim that King Charles sounded "giddily elated" during a phone call in the hours after Diana's death.

The author also recounted a heated exchange with the then-Prince over William and Harry walking in their mother's funeral procession. Diana had named Spencer as her sons' guardian, and he says he protested that she "would never have wanted to put them through anything so ghastly."

However, it was their father who ultimately had the final say, and the future king later called Spencer about the disagreement.

Copies of "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister" By Charles Spencer are displayed at Waterstones Piccadilly on September 22, 2026 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

"'I gather you've said you don't want William and Harry to walk behind Diana's coffin,'" Spencer recalls his former brother-in-law saying. He replied, "Well, of course not, sir. Diana would never have wanted that."

When Prince Charles pointed out that he had done the same at the funeral of his uncle Lord Mountbatten, Spencer claims he told him, "'But you were 30, sir, and he wasn't your mother.'"

"He went nuts," Spencer wrote, according to the excerpt. "'That's the problem with your family. They've got no bloody sense of duty!' he started, before descending into a general rage. Prince Charles continued his stream of anger, without me interrupting."

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

"Then he stopped," he continued. "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."

Earl Spencer, Prince William, Prince Harry, then-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

After the Daily Mail published the first preview of the memoir, Buckingham Palace broke its usual silence with a rare statement.

"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.