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The royal family

Charles Spencer to publish memoir of Diana

369 replies

OccasionalHope · 18/08/2026 18:58

Could be interesting.

OP posts:
Newname26 · 21/08/2026 11:43

adragoncalledaudrey · 21/08/2026 11:34

I believe KC was pushed into it just as much but seemed more accepting of it or was told no quibbling.

She voiced her concerns to her family and they pushed her anyway because teatowels…

That was terrible.

As for the married men bit? I don’t think it fair that people can go on about QC and call her disgusting and then let D off with ‘but’.

We could say ‘but KC and QC did love one another’ and someone will still say it doesn’t make it right.

So the same should apply for D.

They were both pushed into it. I can see why both families thought it was a good idea.

Young man, needs a wife, who also meets the job description.

Young woman, there's a rich guy respectable family, you'll be well looked after.

They never looked at the compatability of the two people. Or how much they wanted to be with each other.

I think they were fond of one another, but didn't really love one another. Maybe she was love bombed and swept away with the idea. His heart was never in it.

Newname26 · 21/08/2026 11:49

rocklivia · 21/08/2026 11:39

And that excuses every questionable action you take for the rest of your life?

I'll say it couldn't have been easy for her. She tried to back out and was pushed into it as it had already been announced.

7 meetings and engagement announced to the world.

Then wedding, then babies in a short period of time. She must have been barely 22 with two tiny kids.

She shouldn't have chased married men but I wouldn't have blamed her for chasing single guys.

adragoncalledaudrey · 21/08/2026 11:51

He doesn’t come across as the love bomb type…

adragoncalledaudrey · 21/08/2026 11:54

I will say it can’t have been any easier for him.

Both arguably damaged people going into a marriage.

Both had faults and both did things they shouldn’t have.

Excusing one because x,y,z isn’t fair.

Excuse none or both.

Gall10 · 21/08/2026 11:58

shellyleppard · 18/08/2026 19:20

He's just after the money 💰

Hasn’t he a few ex wives… this can be expensive!

Newname26 · 21/08/2026 12:05

adragoncalledaudrey · 21/08/2026 11:54

I will say it can’t have been any easier for him.

Both arguably damaged people going into a marriage.

Both had faults and both did things they shouldn’t have.

Excusing one because x,y,z isn’t fair.

Excuse none or both.

I'll excuse both Diana, young nieve and pushed, Charles push and the love of his life was already pushed into a marriage, Camilla he love was shipped off, she hadn't realised his intentions and was equally pushed into a marriage.

3 young people who's life's were fuck-up by an old battle axe the Queen Mother

adragoncalledaudrey · 21/08/2026 12:11

She can get a pass as well.

She was only going by the customs and sensibilities of the time. Not excusing that either but understand it.

Nice to see ‘old battle axe’ in use though.

The fucking ageism on here pisses me right off.

Filoparcels017 · 21/08/2026 12:15

Dontevenlookatme · 20/08/2026 17:39

I’ve always held the view that if the people concerned can reconcile themselves to the situation then it’s none of my business. Diana and Charles were beginning to get along better by the time she died. Diana and Camilla I’m not so sure. Maybe they would have got there, who knows?

But what is known is that C and C carried on their affair (emotional at least, possibly sexual) throughout D and C’s entire courtship and marriage. That is betrayal on another level, way beyond an extra marital affair due to irreconcilable differences in the marriage.

I think much of what happened between Diana and Charles might have been avoided without Camilla in the picture. They would still have divorced but with less pain perhaps.

I agree with you it is complex.

I agree it was complex but also agree it was betrayal on another level.

I have always wondered why, once children were on the scene, that Camilla didn’t do the decent thing and remove herself from the picture.

Newname26 · 21/08/2026 12:24

Filoparcels017 · 21/08/2026 12:15

I agree it was complex but also agree it was betrayal on another level.

I have always wondered why, once children were on the scene, that Camilla didn’t do the decent thing and remove herself from the picture.

I think both Charles & Csmilla tried to make a go of their marriages.
But both we doomed to failure.

SummerNocturnal · 21/08/2026 12:30

What I still find wild is that Charles dated Diana's older sister briefly and Princess Anne dated Andrew Parker-Bowles briefly.
Although looking at him in his jodhpurs, I can see why. He was one of the three inspirations for Jilly Cooper's Rupert Campbell-Black.
<reaches for the remote to rewatch Rivals>
"True Story of Princess Anne's Relationship With Andrew Parker Bowles in 'The Crown'" www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a29417415/princess-anne-andrew-parker-bowles-relationship-the-crown-true-story/

quantumbutterfly · 21/08/2026 12:41

Filoparcels017 · 21/08/2026 12:15

I agree it was complex but also agree it was betrayal on another level.

I have always wondered why, once children were on the scene, that Camilla didn’t do the decent thing and remove herself from the picture.

Not forgetting her own children.
I view her as quite a selfish person and rather scheming, but that's par for the course in those echelons, fight for what you want & watch your back. Poor old Kanga Tryon, lost her mind & fell out of a window. Accidents happen eh?

Newname26 · 21/08/2026 12:42

Charles dating the sister i get, he was being pushed towards granny's pals granddaughters.
Why you would encourage your sister to marry someone who you wouldn't marry yourself is beyond me.

How long did Ann date Andrew PB?

It could be these dates were no more than a handful of actual meetings.

Coinkidinki · 21/08/2026 13:01

Newname26 · 21/08/2026 12:42

Charles dating the sister i get, he was being pushed towards granny's pals granddaughters.
Why you would encourage your sister to marry someone who you wouldn't marry yourself is beyond me.

How long did Ann date Andrew PB?

It could be these dates were no more than a handful of actual meetings.

Why you would encourage your sister to marry someone who you wouldn't marry yourself is beyond me.

In itself, that's not a reason. Sarah Spencer was quoted at the time as saying she didn't love him - not that there were any what we'd now call 'red flags'. Not many sisters have identical personalities and tastes - I'd never assume someone I'd rejected might not be right for my sister.

Newname26 · 21/08/2026 13:02

quantumbutterfly · 21/08/2026 12:41

Not forgetting her own children.
I view her as quite a selfish person and rather scheming, but that's par for the course in those echelons, fight for what you want & watch your back. Poor old Kanga Tryon, lost her mind & fell out of a window. Accidents happen eh?

Was APB not also having affairs elsewhere?

And of course nobody knows the full story. Theyll be lots of little bits that nobody knows about

upinaballoon · 21/08/2026 13:38

Newname26 · 21/08/2026 13:02

Was APB not also having affairs elsewhere?

And of course nobody knows the full story. Theyll be lots of little bits that nobody knows about

I was definitely under the impression that APB was playing away. It might be wrong but I'm sure it was said at the time of the break-ups and divorces.

upinaballoon · 21/08/2026 13:54

MauveLibrary · 19/08/2026 18:31

Charles Spencer lacks decency and a conscience. He failed his sister in life and now he is among the many who have sold and exploited her in death. This book will no doubt stir up more media interest and once again throw her back into the headlines all so he can pocket some easy cash after his latest divorce settlement. He is not a nice man. He is a serial cheat and his adult children are estranged from him.

I have one good thing to say about Charles Spencer. I think he has a very pleasant speaking voice.

JustAnotherWhinger · 21/08/2026 14:36

Coinkidinki · 18/08/2026 19:19

Is there anything at all left to be written about Diana?

I’d also question how much Charles Spencer can really write about given he’d mainly be talking about school holidays.

Diana went to boarding school when she was 9, he would have been 6. She went to an all girls school so obviously they didn’t go to school together. He was still at boarding school when she married Charles.

They quite famously didn’t get on brilliantly as adults and he refused to allow her to live at Athrop after her divorce.

So what new information does he actually have?
Her sisters were at least at the same schools as her.

rocklivia · 21/08/2026 16:25

I happened on a pic of Diana's mother . It struck me how Diana might have looked now . Possibly more stylish though.

Charles Spencer to publish memoir of Diana
Illegally18 · 21/08/2026 19:30

My2cents1975 · 19/08/2026 23:26

What would be interesting is if Spencer addressed why he introduced Martin Bashir to Diana without vetting him first.

Arguably, that introduction led to Diana rejecting her RPOs which resulted in her death due to subpar protocols...driver impaired by alcohol and no seatbelt.

Absolutely.

Pedant61 · 21/08/2026 19:32

CoffeeCantata · 19/08/2026 15:32

It’s obvious that monarchists, for very obvious reasons, are biased against the book before even reading it.
@Filoparcels017

I don't think it's as simple as that. I'm a constitutional monarchist (not a memorabila-collecting super-fan) and I realise that the monarchy is going through a period of instability for various reasons.

I honestly would be surprised if CS comes out with much in the way of condemnation of KC for his affair with Camilla because, firstly, CS himself is a notorious womaniser on his 4th marriage, some of whose children have cut off contact with him, so any judgement on that score or getting on a high horse would be very unwise. And it's well-known that Diana too had many affairs, including some well-documented ones with married men in which her behaviour amounted to harrassment.

Therefore I'd be hugely surprised if CS chose to pass judgement or dig up more dirt on this matter.

My worry is that the book might hurt William who's had enough to deal with in recent years. Harry, I'm sure, is closer to CS and he has far less to lose than Willliam by any scandals CS might decide to air. I don't think 'monarchists' (whatever that means...) are shaking in their shoes here but if I were William, I might be.

Also, I'm no worshipper of Diana but I recognise the difficult situation she was in and also the good she tried to do. So much has been said and written about that - is there really anything to add?

I think he should keep to childhood memories and an appreciation of Diana. But will he? That isn't going to sell books, is it? I'm sure he will want to include salacious stuff a) to settle old scores and b) because of pressure from publishers.

I agree and I believe (hope?) that he won't want to upset William. He may currently have a good relationship with Harry, but I think he's very much looking forward to being uncle of the Monarch (in a Wolf Hall kind of way), so pissing off the future King William V would be a big mistake!

Pedant61 · 21/08/2026 19:36

Lunde · 19/08/2026 16:39

Only 2 royals have attended Eton - William and Harry.

Plus the current Duke of Gloucester, and his elder brother, Prince William.
Not sure about the Kents....maybe?
At the time they were at school, they were all pretty high in the Line of Succession.

Illegally18 · 21/08/2026 19:43

CoffeeCantata · 19/08/2026 15:38

I feel compelled to point out that King Charles, before his marriage, visited a small coterie of discreet married women in addition to Camilla, making full use of his droit de seigneur, and he is never branded as sexually promiscuous.

I remember the many reports of his relationships with very attractive women. I'm not defending 'womanising' in any situation but you have to factor in that women pursued Charles at that time, actively looking for an affair.

I know that when we look today at his ruddy face, thinning grey locks and stubby fingers (bless him - no insult intended) it's hard to imagine this, but once he had a polo-ready body and, while not classically handsome, he was dashing and attractive.

I'm not defending any man exploiting women for sex but few men in Charles's position when young would have been able to resist all the attention he got from international beauties!

Absolutely.

SheinSussex · 21/08/2026 19:45

Lord Frederick Windsor went to Eton.

SheinSussex · 21/08/2026 19:48

Prince Arthur of Connaught (Attended late 1890s; grandson of Queen Victoria)
Prince William of Gloucester (Attended 1954–1960; cousin of Queen Elizabeth II)
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (Cousin of Queen Elizabeth II)
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Cousin of Queen Elizabeth II)
Prince Michael of Kent (Cousin of Queen Elizabeth II)
George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews (Great-grandson of King George V)
Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster (Grandson of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester)
Lord Frederick Windsor (Son of Prince Michael of Kent)
Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick (Grandson of the Duke of Kent)
James Ogilvy (Son of Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy)
Samuel Chatto (Grandson of Princess Margaret)
Arthur Chatto (Grandson of Princess Margaret)
Charles Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley (Grandson of Princess Margaret)
George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood (Grandson of King George V via Princess