Discussion about Charles Spencer's book - Swan Song : Diana, my sister , Beautiful, Beloved, Hunted.

[BasiliskStare]

I know there is a thread about the theft of some pre publication editions of this book.
This thread is more by way of a book club discussion about the actual book , the text. Threads will go where they will , but my intention is this is more for me to give my opinion on the book and for others who read it or are interested in the book to join in. I have pre-ordered from Kindle (half price otherwise I may not have 😊) But is only available on September 22nd. So a holding place if you like.

Yes, that's right.

I’ve got the audiobook on order and CS is narrating it - I’m a moderate Diana fan so looking forward to it - then I’ll judge how much I believe.

As an English teacher, I echo your teacher's comment several times a day.

I enjoyed Diana: Her True Story many years ago.

I remember at the time international media saying Charles and fawcett were having an affair. I didn't care one way or the other, but the accusations was certainly out there and known about by anyone using the internet.

Has anyone read “The Housekeeper’s Diary” by Wendy Berry? I have. Diana doesn’t come out if it well - KC too.

Stephen Colbert reported on Charles Windsors boyfriend in 2003. I think this is only new to younger people.

www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hyyf

I doubt I’ll read this. I’ll revisit this thread though, to see what people think when they have read it.

If we read it for book club then will read it. We have read Spare and so someone may suggest it.

At the time of Diana’s death she wasn't speaking to her mother -they had fallen out some months previously due to Diana’s affair with Hasnat Khan.
She wasn’t speaking to her brother Charles due to his refusal to let her even holiday that summer with W & H on Althorp.
She wasn’t speaking to her sister Jane due to Jane being married to (Lord) Robert Fellows, The Late Queens private secretary.
She had a veryup&down relationship with her sister Sarah too
She wasn’t speaking to Sarah Ferguson due to things written about her by Fergie in her book ‘My Story’.

But -she WAS speaking to her ex husband with whom she regularly had tea at Kensington Palace in their old marital home. That speaks volumes and Spencer cannot make lies up about that. The King wore a blue suit to Diana’s wedding because she always liked him best in a blue suit. Is that the action of a man who was “giddy with excitement “ about his ex wifes death??
I don’t believe that KC said to Diana that he didn’t love her the night before the wedding -if that were true why wouldn’t she have told Martin Bashir?
I also think KC wanted the marriage to work -but they were/are both very emotionally fractured and needy people which never ever works in a marriage. (Look how happy the king is with Camilla -a woman who is confident, comfortable in her own skin, secure and was brought up in a happy home. She can give him the emotional sustenance he needs without asking anything of him)
Once they had seperate households they started to get on again.
The King sent her a valentine card every year -even after they were divorced. He wore his wedding ring from her (a very thin gold band which he wore under his Prince of Wales signet ring) every day until he re married.
We all know he is an emotional man - do we really think that while in a state of shock, horrified, worried beyond measure for his children -that he would say such horrible cold things to a man whom he knows despises him!!
Charles Spencer must think we are all stupid.
She was also speaking to her stepmother Raine and spoke to her every day.

Im no fan of Paul Burrell but I do think he was right when he said that Charles Spencer didn’t want Diana at Althorp when she was alive but happy to have her there when she was dead and charge £10 a pop to ‘visit’ her resting place.
This is just another person making money off the dead Princess.
I expect she would be disgusted with him.

I suspect Diana saying he was more in love with his valet was metaphorical for saying that he didn’t show her much affection. Rather like someone might say tha mt their husband was more in love with his car than them. I don’t think she literally meant he was in love with his valet…

Thanks for taking on this potentially onerous task @BasiliskStare!

I agree with everything you've said @DaisyDooley I don't believe for a moment that KC said that 'people will soon forget about Diana'. I remember that time in 1997 very well. Charles was visibly devastated when he flew to Paris to collect Diana's body and brought it back on the royal flight. He was the one who insisted that she had a state funeral. He was the one who was there with their sons immediately after her death. No way did he even think that, let alone SAY it to DIANA'S BROTHER, of all people! I think Charles Spencer is a spiteful, unpleasant, damaged individual and I will not be reading his book of vengeful lies.

I’ve read it, it’s a very interesting book. It leaves no doubt about Charles’ love for his boys.

The UC (You can read that as Uncle Charles or Utter Cunt. Either fits IMHO) is doubling down
But he would wouldnt he -he’s got a book to sell. https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16142767/earl-spencer-insists-truth-charles-diana.html

What's he supposed to say

"Okay, you got me, I was lying"!!

The biggest clue for me is that no hint of any of this has leaked out in 30 years. If, as he is claiming, he told people at the time someone would have gossiped by now. That's apart from the fact that nothing he says lines up with who Charles is. But the lie is congruent with the type of person Charles S is.

Joining to support you @BasiliskStare👍

As they were apparently yelling at each other at that point in the phone call I wonder if he said something like ‘you’ll soon forget about her’ meaning Charles S hadn’t been very involved in helping Diana or taking care of her while she was alive and vulnerable post divorce so KC thought it was hypocritical of CS to be arguing over whatever aspect of the funeral etc they were talking about.

I think it’s very likely that he completely misheard what (king) Charles said

That’s true as I recall. I’ll find & reread with this in mind.

Oddly my biggest takeaway was the ‘waste’ & carelessnesses at Highgrove, from the huge incinerator that apparently destroyed unwanted brand new £! gifts & new/quality furniture, to the plane especially & exclusively to transport a small, forgotten box of Queens favourite chocs to Balmoral or something like that. It wasn’t that outrageous given what’s been said since.

The latest installment where he discusses Harry and William really focuses on his sympathy for Harry, claiming there was a lack of care for him, that William was more mature and able to handle things, I mean William is only 26 months older than Harry, he had to endure exactly what Harry did..

Charles S is really setting his placemarker, that’s for sure !

That is unfortunate but not unfortunately a surprise.

What a shame for William.

Looking at the extracts about the funeral, for a biography Charles is really centering himself in a way that suggests he may not be the best person to write an objective and truthful account.

Isn't it? William hasn't asked for this, how nasty.

If only William hadn't had a growth spurt, his uncle might have spared him some sympathy. That section has really annoyed me, it's all poor Harry and nothing for William.

That makes a lot of sense, more than anything else.

Charles Spencer doesn’t say the rumour about the valet was true. He just says that Diana told him about it.