'Gaslit by a king': Princess Diana's brother Charles Spencer speaks out in new interview about palace reaction to book
Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, is pushing back on Buckingham Palace about the rare royal reaction to his book reflecting on his sister and his memories of Britain's royal family.
Several excerpts from Spencer's book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," were published by the Daily Mail over the last several days, prior to the book's Sept. 22 release.
One excerpt alleged that during a disagreement over Diana's funeral arrangements, King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, told Spencer, "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough."
That prompted a rare reply from Buckingham Palace, which typically does not comment on books or reports about members of the royal family.
"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 color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss," the palace said in a statement to ABC News on Sept. 16, the day the excerpt was published.
Spencer was asked about that response by ABC News' Maggie Rulli in an interview airing Monday on "Good Morning America."
"Well, it's not every day you're gaslit by a king, but I was really upset with that because I thought it was very, not only condescending, but not straight," Spencer said. "What I said is straight and true. And what did they come back with? That. It doesn't say he didn't say it either. That's what I found interesting. I was really shocked, actually."
Tune into "Good Morning America" on Monday, Sept. 21, from 7-9 a.m. ET on ABC to see more of Maggie Rulli's interview with Charles Spencer.
Diana, Spencer's older sister, died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 at the age of 36. One year prior, in 1996, Charles and Diana finalized their divorce after 15 years of marriage.
Charles and Diana shared two children, Princes William and Harry, neither of whom have commented on their uncle's book.
Spencer memorably walked alongside William and Harry, as well as Charles, in Diana's funeral procession on Sept. 6, 1997.
His book is described as telling the story of Diana's life from his perspective as her brother.
In addition to Spencer, William, and Harry, Diana is survived by her older sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes.
