Earl Charles Spencer, the younger brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, alleges in his upcoming memoir that the then-Prince Charles sounded “giddily elated” when he spoke to Spencer shortly after Diana died in a Paris car crash in 1997. Spencer also claims Charles later told him, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough,” during a dispute over Diana’s funeral arrangements.

Spencer’s account appears in his forthcoming book, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” which is scheduled for publication September 22. The memoir recounts Spencer’s recollections of Diana’s death and the events surrounding her funeral, including his opposition to Princes William and Harry walking behind their mother’s coffin.

Buckingham Palace responded directly to the allegations, despite its usual policy of not commenting on books. The Palace said King Charles is mindful that “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory,” appearing to question Spencer’s recollection of events nearly three decades later.

Spencer has rejected the suggestion that grief distorted his memory and has continued to defend his account. He has described the memoir as an effort to present what he considers the true story of Diana and her life within the royal family.

The dispute centers on private conversations for which Spencer's memoir provides his recollection, while Buckingham Palace disputes the reliability of that account without addressing each alleged statement individually. The competing accounts have renewed attention on the tensions surrounding Diana’s death and funeral nearly 30 years later.