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Celebrity

Earl Spencer says Prince Harry had 'no involvement' in Diana memoir

Charles Spencer told CBS Mornings on Monday that he wrote his memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister alone, telling his nephews and sisters only just before publication — and said Harry asked him: 'Is there anything in there that would be embarrassing to me?'

By Maya Lindqvist · · 2 min read

Illustration: Flip News

Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, has said Prince Harry was not involved in any way in his new memoir about his sister, Princess Diana, and that he deliberately kept the project secret from almost the entire family.

Speaking to Gayle King on CBS Mornings on Monday 28 September to discuss Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which was released last week, Spencer, 62, said: “I decided not to have anyone involved in the book, so no one knew about it except my wife, obviously, and the publishers. I didn’t tell any of the family until just before it was released publicly.”

He added that keeping Harry’s name clear of the project was “really important” to him: “I didn’t want anyone to think — particularly with Harry, who people know I had to stay in the summer — that he was in any way involved in this.”

Spencer told People this month that he broke the news to Prince William and Prince Harry — as well as to his sisters Lady Sarah and Lady Jane — at “exactly the same time”. He confirmed on Monday that he has spoken to both nephews since publication.

According to Spencer, Harry’s first question was: “Is there anything in there that would be embarrassing to me?” — to which Spencer replied: “Absolutely not.” He said he has “absolutely [did] not” violate Harry’s privacy and has not asked either nephew whether they approve of the book.

The interview comes after Buckingham Palace pushed back on claims in the book about King Charles III’s reaction to Diana’s death. A Palace 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 color memory.” Spencer said on Monday he was telling the truth and accused the Palace of trying to “gaslight” him, adding: “There’s nothing wrong with either [mind or memory].”

Sources

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