Charles sounded ‘giddily elated‘ after Diana’s death, claims Earl Spencer
Earl Spencer alleges in a new memoir that King Charles sounded "giddily elated" after Princess Diana's death, prompting a rare and strongly worded pushback from Buckingham Palace.
Written by Roundtablefrom 2 outlets' reporting
01What happened
Earl Spencer, brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, has claimed in a forthcoming memoir that King Charles sounded "giddily elated" when he called him after Diana's death in 1997. In excerpts from the book, published in the Daily Mail, Earl Spencer writes that the then-Prince Charles telephoned him and that he sounded like a "lottery winner." Buckingham Palace pushed back against the credibility of the book, with a spokesperson saying the King is mindful that "the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory." The book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is due to be published next week. Representatives of Prince Harry have said they do not want to comment. BBC News has not seen the book in full.
The facts every outlet at this table agrees on.
02Every voice
One entry per outlet, in the order they should be read. Each links back to the reporting it was drawn from — check any of it.
BBC News
Read the original· bbc.co.ukHow they framed it
The BBC presents the claim as a personal allegation from Earl Spencer's recollection, while emphasising Buckingham Palace's rejection and raising questions about public reaction and the appropriateness of sharing private disputes.
In their words
Buckingham Palace strongly pushed back against claims in a book by the late princess's brother. A spokesperson said: "While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss." The BBC notes that the evidence is Earl Spencer's own recollection of conversations about that emotional time around his sister's death, almost 30 years ago.
The Guardian
Read the original· theguardian.comHow they framed it
The Guardian reports the claim straightforwardly, stating that Earl Spencer claims in a new book that King Charles sounded "giddily elated" following Diana's death.
In their words
Earl Spencer claims in a new book that King Charles sounded "giddily elated" following the death of Princess Diana.
03Where they differ
The BBC provides extensive context, including Buckingham Palace's rejection of the book's credibility, the Palace's full statement, and questions about public reaction. The Guardian's report consists of a single sentence stating the claim without additional context or response from the Palace. The difference is in depth and inclusion of reaction rather than in the core fact of the allegation.
Described, not adjudicated. Roundtable does not tell you which account is right.
04Still open
- How will the public respond to the allegations in Earl Spencer's book?
- Will Buckingham Palace issue a further statement or take any other action?
- What details does the full book contain beyond the excerpts published in the Daily Mail?
- Will Prince William or Prince Harry comment publicly on the book?
