Charles Spencer's book Diana Swan Song etc etc . Thread the second.

@BasiliskStare @FunPartyIdeas regarding his different memories of their childhood - it just occurs to me that his perspective maybe totally skewed.

He is the longed for son of a man who was determined to have one, regardless of his wife's health, while Diana was the 3rd daughter of a man increasingly desperate to have a son. Their treatment and parental affection was unlikely to be similar. Charles was the golden child - the future Earl. Diana was yet another girl.

Did Spencer acknowledge this in the book?

@Cathandkin I think some of his memories are more about long held views he has regarding the RF and Charles and newspapers. It’s similar to Harry - vastly expensive court case with nothing to show for it because he had no evidence. He had feelings and supposition but that’s not enough. Spencer is the same. He’s set himself up against the king and he’s not reflected on anything in 30 years. He’s also had little influence on Harry and William and he’s hardly a positive role model anyway. So he’s sidelined and not really in William’s life or that of his dc. So he takes an angry swipe because he’s not got much credence left!

If I was William I’d be furious. Spencer simply doesn’t care about anyone other than himself. William will maintain a dignified silence over this book but who needs all this stuff raked over yet again?

Thank you. That seems a balanced review.

As with similar books the lurid headlines are only a small portion of the book. It is clear this book centres CS rather than Diana. As the author CS is free to do that.

So what if it's only a "small portion" of the book? Still controversial, deliberately hurtful and completely without evidence.

I think Spencer has been very calculating, and is determined to disrupt, get the headlines and cause problems. Perhaps it makes him feel important and worthwhile. He may well feel guilty because he fell out with Diana and their relationship was often strained and difficult.
Who knows. Unfortunately, the book isn't accurate and I doubt Spencer will correct the errata.

I completely agree that CS is entitled to centre himself in a book.

But I would think it more honest if he hadn’t used her face and said ‘my sister’ on the front cover.

It is like false advertising to me.

Thank you @BasiliskStare for the link and thank you @bluegreygreenfor the archive link.

Two things struck me here aside from what we have already discussed at length about the inaccuracies in the book. One was why on Earth did he feel it necessary to take a couple of pot shots at the Princess Royal? It seems like a bit of clichéd characterisation of her personality for someone with whom he clearly has had limited interaction. The second was how obvious it is that he has waited for the passing or Robert Fellowes before writing this book. A lot of his claims about the funeral arrangements run contrary to what Fellowes, acting as go between, helped to arrange. It really makes the whole thing come across as an exercise in pettiness and point scoring as well as exposing the bias in his recollections

@Cathandkin it’s been widely reported that there will be editing and reprinted. According to The Independent. So not sure what version will be available to purchasers.

Ok thanks

Blimey, Piers Morgan is not to be messed with 😳
I imagine he disapproves of people milking Diana’s memory in general, they were sort of friends I think.

So not sure what version will be available to purchasers.

The book has been on sale in bookstores since 22nd September.

It was also available to pre-order on Amazon, so presumably those pre-orders have been honoured, as there has been nothing said otherwise, and there is no information regarding any books being withdrawn.

Edited to add the comment to which I was replying.

It's more that he's angry about the lies; he's accused of something as an editor which occurred 2 years before he had that job.

I think the point you make about Robert Fellowes is very true. That also makes it verydisrespectful to his sister Jane. She has never, ever, spoken out, so he knows she's unlikely to do so now.

And given that she lived in the grounds of Kensington Palace, as well as her husband's job, she is actually likely the one of the siblings the most aware of all the goings on, around the funeral and before and after.

It wouldn't be totally uncommon to have a new, updated version go on sale. I've a few books where I have two copies because a second edition was released with an edit or correction (or two).

The big question will be if the current stock gets pulled off the shelves.

Who bears the cost of the edit and reprint?

Well yes, but I am guessing that he also disapproves generally of this biography. He could have written a Diana book himself but hasn’t (yet).

Oh I see, possibly, although his relationship was like a lot of newspaper men, Diana liked to keep friendly because she wanted favourable press.

Thanks for the link, @bluegreygreen. To me, this first-rate review cuts through to the heart of the stupidity and hypocrisy of the Spencer-Sussex delusion on Harry's part, and Spencer's manipulation of Harry and others.

It didn't ultimately matter how Johnny and Raine allegedly treated Charles Spencer, and it didn't matter what anybody did or said about any of that family - the fact is, that he (Charles Spencer) and only he would inherit the Spencer estate and become the next Earl Spencer, and he knew this from a young age.

Similarly, it has never actually mattered what any Spencer or Sussex or anyone else thought or thinks about the monarchy and its members. The fact is, Charles was always going to inherit and become King, as will William. And Charles Spencer has always known this too, from a young age.

Popularity and childhood bedrooms are irrelevant to primogeniture.

Harry, who ceased being the 'spare' 13 years ago, attaches himself to Spencer in a futile gesture of rebellion while failing to understand that Spencer is more like William, as a beneficiary of primogeniture, and that Spencer is likely using him for publicity purposes for his book(s) and that there will be precious little reciprocation.

@JustAnotherWhinger Amazon have it. I think it should have been pulled but it’s available.

I think the publisher bears the cost of edits and reprint.

A lot of the issues arose from Charles not saying he liked Camilla before she married Parker Bowles. He could not make up his mind about women, or they rejected him, so granny and her cronies found someone for him. Diana naively agreed! What a lovely life she could have had, but interfering family members served her, and King Charles, very poorly. They just thought she could be moulded and would allow Charles to continue his pre marriage arrangement with Camilla. Just a horror story really.

Not quite the full story, but certainly, the marriage was a mistake.

@Cathandkin Ha! An abridged version. Not many come out of it well. Damaged human beings all round.

Such a pity, and a shame people are still exploiting it.

Most book sellers have it as well. They’ll not stop selling until they have to (and some people will buy it because it’s likely to be changed - that’s a market in and of itself).

It wouldn’t really have mattered if Charles had said that as Camilla didn’t want to marry him.
Andrew Parker Bowles was a more attractive marriage than Charles for her. He had the life of luxury without the stresses and responsibility.

@Cathandkin Absolutely. That’s what I think is unforgivable. Is everyone involved never allowed to be content with their own thoughts and memories? I get that the press cannot be controlled in this respect, but her own brother with no regard for his nephews and their dc is appalling.

I know. I just can't understand why Spencer would want to do this, it's awful. Never mind the wrong information!