Please or to access all these features

The royal family

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

602 replies

BasiliskStare · 18/09/2026 13:13

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
28
diddl · 19/09/2026 08:38

The 2nd excerpt CS says something like when the Queen found out that Diana had been in a car accident she said tetchily "what has she been up to now"?

Paraphrasing there-but how would he know?

diddl · 19/09/2026 08:41

And it does not look good for King Charles who comes across as petulant and utterly self-absorbed.

I think that this has long been known/suspected hasn't it?

Look how PP frequently behaved in public.

bluegreygreen · 19/09/2026 08:48

He would have no way of knowing that, @diddl. I don't know if it's something that any of the Queen's biographers have mentioned.

ChoppyWalters · 19/09/2026 09:14

What did KC say at Johnny Spencer’s funeral? @Pipedreams607

I found a pdf online of the Housemaid’s Diary mentioned upthread. The one forbidden to be published in the UK. A short book, it has the ring of truth about it. Two people who had nothing in common, with a large age gap, both from very privileged backgrounds, who should never had married.

The older I get, the more I see the monarchy as a ridiculous thing in this day and age. We know too much about them, there is zero mystique and the rot set in when Charles and Diana married. Light being shone on their murky and mundane lives just renders them as the same as us, albeit with more wealth, and over supported by too many staff doing ridiculous tasks for them. The Andrew stuff and the Queen getting involved in that monetarily has made my high regard for her dim too.

I have never liked Charles, petulant bore whose word is hung onto like he is a great sage, when he is just an obnoxious man who is surrounded by great privilege who most people would avoid if he weren’t royal. (Harry has the same petulance.) I believe he was over bearing with the funeral arrangements- he knew the public were gunning for him and he wanted to control the arrangements to off set negativity directed at him.

Charles Spencer is a money grabber, damaged man who has led a messy life and needs constant top ups of hard cash to prop up the estate and his extended family. Diana is a rich seam he has mined for years, he is simply topping up the coffers. His recent divorce will have hit hard - again. Diana was spoiled as a person when the penny dropped on why she was deemed suitable to marry Charles , she was used. Originally sweet but obviously hardened by life, and grew fond of adulation and fawning. They were a match made in hell.

King Charles is not having a peaceful old age is he. Camilla must have to listen to perpetual whining.

bluegreygreen · 19/09/2026 10:21

This is the thread where there is more general discussion going on

Royal row between King Charles and Earl Spencer 2

Kirschcherries · 19/09/2026 10:26

Having read the two extracts of the book my thoughts are:

  • Diana’s mother was the executor of her will along with Patrick Jephson. So why was CS taking the lead?
  • Diana will also stated she wanted KC to consult her mother on the upbringing of W & H. It was very clear D wanted her Mum to speak up for W&H.
  • In the event both KC and Diana had died, she then jointly appointed her mother and CS to jointly be W & H guardians.

WRT the funeral I can believe PP set out the order they lined up and gave the advice to look down - after all he walked behind his sisters cortège it at a similar age.

PP also put an arm round W when they went through Admiralty Arch. At least someone was thinking about W.

FortnamsTea · 19/09/2026 10:39

@OneLilacHedgehogthanks for that link to classic Colbert & Stewart - brilliant stuff.

Thedom · 19/09/2026 10:42

Interesting to see the Poll results on the thread set up last night, 1600 responded in just a few hours, that must be a record for an MN poll. 67% don’t believe Charles Spencer revelations, the poll still has 6 days to run though.

DaisyDooley · 19/09/2026 14:38

Pipedreams607 · 18/09/2026 23:13

I believe that this was because he was asked for a copy of it so many times by members of the public that he got copies made. Why not? It’s a great speech! Living history!

This was also covered in Palace Confidential The late Queen Elizabeth when questioned about her reaction to the speech, said that she felt CS was entitled to say what he wanted to say. So if the late Queen didn’t object, I don’t see why anyone else should?

And as we now know, QE2 offered to give Diana her HRH back after the funeral, so she can’t have been that offended.

The man said he would never make money from his dead sister.
Took him less than a year to change his mind about that.
He woukd sell anything he could get his hands on. He doesn’t give a shit about Diana, or her children -this book proves that.
All he cares about is himself & money.

wordler · 19/09/2026 20:38

DaisyDooley · 19/09/2026 14:38

The man said he would never make money from his dead sister.
Took him less than a year to change his mind about that.
He woukd sell anything he could get his hands on. He doesn’t give a shit about Diana, or her children -this book proves that.
All he cares about is himself & money.

He also organized a touring exhibition about Diana including her wedding dress that raised tens of millions of pounds - it was supposed to benefit the Diana Foundation but in reality they were given a fraction of the funds raised. The rest went to running costs and the Althrop estate.

ShamedBySiri · 19/09/2026 21:36

I posted this on the other thread. I'll post other stuff there, as this is for discussion of the book but the fact that ES is profiting from his sister AGAIN is tangentially relevant. The X poster is posting a LOT of unsavoury details regarding CS for anyone wanting to wander over there for a look.
CS certainly hasn't done himself any favours poking this hornet's nest.

"Charles Spencer's profiting of Princess Diana's memory and death needs to be exposed: 🛑 Made £25M touring her bridal gown and personal items across the US 🛑 Made £15 million more displaying them at Althorp for 15 years -to 2013 🛑 That grift only stopped in 2013 when Prince William turned 30 and took legal control of his mother's personal possessions and moved them back to Kensington Palace. 🛑 Made £11 million on Althorpt ickets sales since 2014. 🛑 Allegedly being paid millions for a Netflix doc exploiting Diana and doing what he complained the media has done. Now Earl Spencer is profiting off his sister yet again with a £10M propaganda book. He has profited over £61+ million of his sister Diana's memorey and death. Total hypocrisy."

https://x.com/freedom_007__/status/2101295646040801495?s=20

The British Prince (@freedom_007__) on X

Charles Spencer's profiting of Princess Diana's memory and death needs to be exposed: 🛑 Made £25M touring her bridal gown and personal items across the US 🛑 Made £15 million more displaying them at Althorp for 15 years -to 2013 🛑 That grift only...

https://x.com/freedom_007__/status/2101295646040801495?s=20

Madamefroufrou · 19/09/2026 21:52

viques · 18/09/2026 15:08

I have no intention of reading the book.

But I would love to know where Spencer got hold of the photo on the front cover, is it photoshopped to make her look older for some reason ?

I don’t think many people would recognise it as Diana if it was shown to them out of context. Such an odd picture to choose to represent probably the most photographed and recognisable woman of the 20 th Century.

Edited

yes indeed, I thought this straight away, unrecognisable to me as Diana,
out of context, as you say looking as though she was having a stroke
and looking like the Goldsmith brothers, same skin and nose, Jemima too,
seen together they looked very much alike, no wonder the rumours

Thedom · 19/09/2026 21:56

Seems Richard Kay was not told about the particular comment, so no corroborating there,

Writing in today's MoS, the Mail's Richard Kay – one of Diana's most trusted confidants – recalls Earl Spencer telling him, in the week before the Princess's funeral, that there had been a 'furious row' and that Prince Charles had been 'utterly pathetic'.

Madamefroufrou · 19/09/2026 21:58

ShamedBySiri · 19/09/2026 21:36

I posted this on the other thread. I'll post other stuff there, as this is for discussion of the book but the fact that ES is profiting from his sister AGAIN is tangentially relevant. The X poster is posting a LOT of unsavoury details regarding CS for anyone wanting to wander over there for a look.
CS certainly hasn't done himself any favours poking this hornet's nest.

"Charles Spencer's profiting of Princess Diana's memory and death needs to be exposed: 🛑 Made £25M touring her bridal gown and personal items across the US 🛑 Made £15 million more displaying them at Althorp for 15 years -to 2013 🛑 That grift only stopped in 2013 when Prince William turned 30 and took legal control of his mother's personal possessions and moved them back to Kensington Palace. 🛑 Made £11 million on Althorpt ickets sales since 2014. 🛑 Allegedly being paid millions for a Netflix doc exploiting Diana and doing what he complained the media has done. Now Earl Spencer is profiting off his sister yet again with a £10M propaganda book. He has profited over £61+ million of his sister Diana's memorey and death. Total hypocrisy."

https://x.com/freedom_007__/status/2101295646040801495?s=20

I don‘t understand how he was able to essentially hijack his sister’s body

Perhaps William will recover her, as the mother of the king (William) she
should have been buried with other royalty at Frogmore in Windsor

Wewinnow · 19/09/2026 22:47

Pipedreams607 · 18/09/2026 22:55

I’ve just watched Richard Kay being interviewed on Palace Confidential and honestly it’s incendiary stuff. He has basically confirmed what Charles Spencer has said is true.

He also confirmed Charles Spencer’s shock at how Prince Charles during the funeral negotiations, was completely focused on his own emotional needs being met above the pain of the Spencer family and even of his own sons.

Shocking stuff. KC is not coming well out of this at all.

Edited

How does Richard Kay know all this?

OneLilacHedgehog · 19/09/2026 23:21

Madamefroufrou · 19/09/2026 21:58

I don‘t understand how he was able to essentially hijack his sister’s body

Perhaps William will recover her, as the mother of the king (William) she
should have been buried with other royalty at Frogmore in Windsor

William was a minor so not next of kin. Diana's had named in her will who should be involved in planning her funeral. As well as her siblings she named her mother. King Charles refused to let her mother see Diana's body or be involved in the funeral arrangements.

AlexandraCarrington · 19/09/2026 23:56

King Charles refused to let her mother see Diana's body

Possibly there was good reason for that.

PollyBell · 20/09/2026 00:05

He's going in the jungle ain't he?

Luddite26 · 20/09/2026 00:21

Wewinnow · 19/09/2026 22:47

How does Richard Kay know all this?

because he has a journalist's brain and remrebers it.

AlexandraCarrington · 20/09/2026 00:25

because he has a journalist's brain and remrebers it.

But he wasn't there. He only remembers what he was told. It's hearsay.

Thedom · 20/09/2026 00:37

PollyBell · 20/09/2026 00:05

He's going in the jungle ain't he?

😂😂

jeffgoldblum · 20/09/2026 00:49

PollyBell · 20/09/2026 00:05

He's going in the jungle ain't he?

I’m a cash grabbing grifter……get me out of here!

OneLilacHedgehog · 20/09/2026 01:10

AlexandraCarrington · 20/09/2026 00:25

because he has a journalist's brain and remrebers it.

But he wasn't there. He only remembers what he was told. It's hearsay.

Hearsay is still acceptable as evidence in civil court cases you know.

jeffgoldblum · 20/09/2026 01:12

OneLilacHedgehog · 20/09/2026 01:10

Hearsay is still acceptable as evidence in civil court cases you know.

Sorry? , I thought your knowledge was restricted to criminal law.

noonames · 20/09/2026 01:13

OneLilacHedgehog · 20/09/2026 01:10

Hearsay is still acceptable as evidence in civil court cases you know.

Is there a court case? Who is suing who?