Earl Spencer’s book is already making headlines before it’s even hit the shelves. His new memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which is being serialised by the Daily Mail ahead of its publication on Tuesday, makes several explosive claims about Princess Diana’s marriage to King Charles, her relationship with the Royal Family, and the events surrounding her death in 1997. The publication, however, has also revived a comment the earl made in an interview back in 1998, when he said he would never profit from his sister’s death. In the interview, he said: “Can you imagine anybody making a profit out of their brother or sister’s death? I mean it’s so low it’s inconceivable … I’ll never profit from Diana’s death.”
Royal observers have reportedly accused the earl of “cashing in” on Diana’s memory. Publishing sources revealed to The Sun that Diana’s brother had landed an advance of £750,000 to £1 million for his memoir but they added that he could get up to £10 million if the book becomes popular in the United States.
So, what do YOU think? Has Earl Spencer written his new book just to make as much money as possible? Vote in our poll and express your views in the comment section below.
An insider told the publication:“The advance was quite small – between £750,000 and £1million – because there were only two publishers involved and that went down to one, which is Penguin.
“What has been revealed so far has gone down badly with the British public – which means the book may not do that well here.
“But it will sell millions in the States, and he could make £5million to £10million from it.”
In the memoir, Earl Spencer claims the then-Prince of Wales unleashed a “stream of anger” during a tense phone call about whether young William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin.
Diana’s brother alleged Charles told him “we’ll forget her soon enough.” Earl Spencer also claimed Charles “sounded giddily elated” when he called him after Diana’s death, alleging King Charles sounded like a “lottery winner.”
Speaking to the BBC, the earl insisted he is “telling the truth” about his conversation with the King after Diana’s death. He also described Charles’s alleged comments as “monstrous.” Earl Spencer claimed: “I can tell you here and now, those are exactly the words he said.”
When he was asked whether he had evidence to back up the claim, the earl answered: “I told friends and family straight away, close friends and family, about what had been said, because it was so monstrous. I’m telling the truth.”
Last week, Buckingham Palace hit back at the explosive claims made by Earl Spencer.
The statement read: “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.”
Princess Diana died in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma road tunnel in Paris on August 31, 1997. Her funeral was held six days later at Westminster Abbey. The funeral service took place on September 6, 1997, and was watched on live television by 32.1 million people. Earl Spencer delivered an emotional eulogy at the service.
