Earl Spencer Claims Queen Reacted “Irritably” to Early News of Diana’s Crash
LONDON: Earl Spencer, brother of Princess Diana, has claimed in a new excerpt from his memoir that the late Queen Elizabeth II reacted irritably to incomplete news of Diana’s car crash, before the seriousness of the situation was known, asking: “What is she doing now?”The excerpt, published Friday, also alleges the Queen considered restoring Diana’s…
LONDON: Earl Spencer, brother of Princess Diana, has claimed in a new excerpt from his memoir that the late Queen Elizabeth II reacted irritably to incomplete news of Diana’s car crash, before the seriousness of the situation was known, asking: “What is she doing now?”
The excerpt, published Friday, also alleges the Queen considered restoring Diana’s royal title, which she lost in her divorce from Charles. Spencer says the Queen wanted Diana buried at the royal burial ground at Frogmore, while his family insisted she be laid to rest at Althorp.
In a BBC interview, Spencer repeated his claim that King Charles told him by phone in the days after Diana’s death that she would “soon be forgotten.” “I can tell you here and now, those are the exact words he used,” he said. Buckingham Palace responded that the King is aware “grief can cloud the mind.”
A royal commentator called Spencer’s latest remarks “incredibly unpleasant” and “hostile,” questioning who would benefit from reopening the tragedy nearly 30 years on. She said Princes William and Harry would certainly not want it.
