Prince Harry and Prince William are once again being pulled into the story of their mother, this time because of a memoir neither man has publicly discussed and because reports disagree over what Harry knew before its most controversial claims became public.
Charles Spencer’s Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, due September 22nd, contains deeply personal recollections about Princess Diana’s life, death and funeral. One report says Harry already knew about the material and had discussed the book with Spencer during a summer visit to Althorp. Another says the manuscript was kept from both Diana’s sons and that neither was warned about its specific allegations in advance.
Harry, Meghan Markle and their children stayed at Althorp in July, and photographs shared afterward showed Harry, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet walking through the estate where Diana is buried.
What is clear is that Swan Song has reopened one of the most painful chapters in William and Harry’s lives. Spencer revisits the decision to have the two boys walk behind Diana’s coffin in 1997 and makes allegations about King Charles’ words and demeanor after her death that Buckingham Palace has publicly challenged.
One Report Says Harry Knew What Was Coming
Page Six reported that Harry had advance awareness of the memoir’s contents, citing multiple unnamed sources familiar with the situation. “Harry knew what was in the book, it didn’t come as a shock,” one source told the outlet.
According to that account, Harry and Spencer discussed Swan Song when the Sussex family visited Althorp in July. Meghan later shared photographs from the estate, and Harry and the children were pictured carrying bouquets while walking through the grounds.
Mandatory, citing reporting connected to Rob Shuter, went further by saying Harry had effectively been brought into the loop while William and King Charles were not given advance copies.
Town & Country similarly reported that Harry was made aware of controversial material and discussed the memoir with his uncle, but specifically noted that he may not have actually read it.
Another Account Says Neither Harry Nor William Was Warned About the Allegations
Reporting attributed to The Telegraph and cited by HELLO! says security around Swan Song was so tight that the manuscript was not shared in advance with Prince William, Prince Harry, King Charles or Buckingham Palace.
Under that version, the family knew Spencer was writing a book about Diana but was not warned about the specific allegations before excerpts began appearing publicly.
Harry could have discussed the themes of the book with Spencer without seeing the manuscript. He could also have known that his uncle planned to revisit the funeral and Diana’s treatment without knowing the precise language Spencer would attribute to Charles.
Charles Spencer Calls the Book His Most Personal Work
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Spencer himself has publicly focused on why he wrote Swan Song. When he showed followers the first physical copy on Instagram, Spencer called it “the most personal” of the ten books he has written over the past three decades. “At heart, this is a brother’s simple tribute to an extraordinary sister,” he wrote.
Spencer also said he spent three days recording the audiobook and came away believing he had finally expressed what he “wanted and needed to say.” He added that Diana “would, I reckon, have approved of every word.”
The publisher, Penguin Press, describes the 384-page memoir as Diana’s life and death told from her brother’s perspective. The book covers their childhood, her marriage and royal life, the press attention surrounding her and the week of her death.
Spencer has said the approaching 30th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2027 prompted another wave of interview requests and persuaded him to put his memories on the record himself. He has also said he wanted to challenge what he considers longstanding inaccuracies about his sister rather than repeatedly respond to other people’s versions of her life.
The Book Reopens the Fight Over William and Harry Walking Behind Diana’s Coffin
One of the memoir’s most consequential sections returns to Diana’s funeral on September 6th, 1997. William was 15 and Harry was 12 when they walked behind their mother’s coffin alongside their father, then-Prince Charles, their grandfather Prince Philip and Earl Spencer. The procession became one of the defining images associated with Diana’s death.
Spencer says he strongly opposed having the boys take part and argued that Diana would not have wanted her sons subjected to such a public display of grief.
Spencer also said publicly in 2017 that he had argued against the decision and believed he had been misled into thinking William and Harry wanted to participate. Harry later wrote in Spare that several adults were horrified by the proposal, particularly his uncle.
In Swan Song, Spencer provides a more detailed and contentious account of his argument with Charles. He alleges that the then-Prince of Wales became angry when Spencer objected and ultimately told him, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”
That is Spencer’s recollection of a private conversation nearly three decades ago. Buckingham Palace issued an unusual response after the excerpt became public, saying that while it does not normally comment on books, the King is mindful that “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory” even many years after a loss.
Spencer Also Claims Charles Sounded ‘Giddily Elated’ After Diana Died
Spencer writes that when Charles telephoned him after the fatal Paris crash, the then-prince sounded “giddily elated” and, in Spencer’s words, “like a lottery winner.” He says Charles told him that he had already gone to William and Harry’s bedrooms at Balmoral and informed them their mother was dead.
People who previously worked with Charles have also disputed Spencer’s portrayal. Former communications secretary Julian Payne told the BBC that Charles was “absolutely emphatic” during his time working for him that staff should respect Diana’s memory and never criticize her.
Harry had a public opportunity to address the controversy on September 17th when he arrived at the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. As he walked toward the venue, a reporter called out, “Harry, Harry, how are you feeling about your uncle’s book?” Video of the arrival shows Harry continuing inside without giving an answer.