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, I agree, it's before Diana even met the family, it's clear what the purpose is.

I love history. I enjoy royal history. I normally devour whole books in a few hours, but this one is a difficult read as it, to me, reads like a first draft of a gossip book.

Exactly, there was absolutely no mention during the coverage of the funeral of the hearse breaking down and I do remember them stopping to take flowers off the windscreen. Hearses are used to having to go slow, why would the engine burn out?
I don't know whether to question why somebody would tell him this shit or question his memory?

Before.

The police investigation was reported by the News of the World in September 1994.

I think the bios on Charles show the mismatch in temperament between the two men. They’re a few similar anecdotes therein & Phillip’s plan to try to toughen sensitive Charles up - Gordonstoun not Eton etc.

As someone said why are these included here in book on Diana & given weight.

Yes, it just seems like Spencer's attempt to smear

I think he’s conflated two things.

There would have been a back up plan - second hearse, “this is what will happen if…” discussions will have been part of the funeral planning.

On the day speed limits had to be lowered because of the crowds, and the hearse had to stop to remove flowers, so there was a delay in the cortège reaching Althrop.

I’d put money on him misremembering that lunch was changed from after to before because of a delay, but it wasn’t because of the pre-discussed plan of delays if the hearse broke down.

Again though something that would have been easily checked rather than relying solely on memory

Balcony? Did she hell. Possibly there was a window behind her. She was sitting at a desk, with her specs on. 6 p.m. news, Friday.

And she was being a bit stern with the nation, what with having had it up to here all week.

I'm starting to think the book should be classed as fiction.

He seems to have "misremembered" quite a lot.

I did wonder whether or not the King was wise to put out the statement he did so quickly.

I wondered if he was right to question the veracity of CS’s musings.

He was. On both counts.

He does.

which if he’d bashed the book as his memory he’d have got away with a bit more.

Bit he’s presented it as a historically accurate book, correcting previous mistruths…

Which so far the main correction is the of the belief Diana was a child when she pushed her step-mother down the stairs… which really paints his sister in a very poor light.

Not really the aim he seemed to be going for originally.

Indeed & his inclusion of her pushing him down a steep bank, as a child, with calculation & knowing he was terrified of it, made me think of the Omen. Not what he was hoping for I feel.

I read someone who was there saying that as they were filming you could see and hear the crowds outside the palace.

what would be the point of speaking FROM the balcony? it would be a bit like Ceausescu. Imagine if the crowd had shouted the queen down.

I know, she was a grown woman when she did that! Hooked her leg round Raine's and gave her a shove.

I remember there being a window behind too. I can’t remember the details of the story of how it was shot now - whether having the window behind was the crew’s suggestion, or whether QE2 was set on that and it was difficult for them to light. Or maybe there was something about getting power to the camera. Anyway, all resolved respectfully and amicably. Philip was there though, and part of the discussion of how to do it.

Another one struggling to understand how a story about Charles’s childhood ears is a relevant part of Diana’s swansong 🤔
Just seems like royal tittle tattle really, much like some of Harry’s ‘revelations’ in Spare.

Poor Charles, if anyone remembers anything about him it's the ears. He said once that they are the one thing about him portrait painters never get wrong.

@bluegreygreen - Yes CS says QEII gave her speech from the balcony - he does say you could see people milling around in the background. So I took it as she was indoors ( which I and others remember ) but the window gave out on to the balcony. Not the best way of putting it as @MrsDanversGlidesAgain said. All a bit Anthony Blanche and The Wasteland in Brideshead.

@MrsFinkelstein Thank you thank you for the Crown reference. I wonder what other impeccable sources CS has . The Princess Diaries ? The Lion King? Kind Hearts and Coronets ?

@JustAnotherWhinger I think your hearse theory is spot on. There will have been a backup in the unlikely event the car broke down , rather than some chap from Tedworth services coming out with a spanner. But so easily checked.

I remember Wordsworth said something like Poetry is emotion recollected in tranquillity . I'm not sure this biography isn't emotion recollected with more emotion and a dash of agenda.

This book is turning out to be an embarrassment for Charles Spencer, not the Royal Family. Getting the Piers M thing wrong just highlighted and contradicted CS’s lofty statement that he was an historian who worked with facts. Piers is loving this. He loves being the centre of news that is aligned with A listers, top politicians and the royals. Plus he knows that Harry (and therefore Meghan) are closely aligned with his uncle, and Piers will see this as some kind of upset to Harry and Meghan, his arch enemies. This dropped into Piers lap like a ripe peach.

2.20 on this YT vid. You can see the Victoria memorial behind her

It's this kind of thing which paints it as sour grapes.

I think that just like Harry, it's years and years of bottled up grievance.

I’m not at all sure why he thinks this is the kind of thing his readers would want to know. It isn’t some interesting tit bit or juicy reveal. It’s a bit laughing at someone behind your hand if you will . Juvenile