Charles Spencer’s new memoirSwan Song: Diana, My Sisterhit shelves on September 22, and it took roughly five minutes for the royal internet to catch fire. In the book, Spencer claims King Charles sounded“giddily elated”days after Diana’s death in 1997 and said she would soon be forgotten. A source close to the monarch says the seventy-seven-year-old King is“devastated”and doesn’t recognize the person being described.
Buckingham Palace responded with a rare statement, suggesting that fraternal grief can cloud memory. Spencer wasn’t having it. Appearing onGood Morning America, he said,“It’s not every day you’re gaslit by a king,”and stood firmly by his account of events. The phrase instantly became the internet’s new favorite reaction to anything mildly unfair.
The feud touches something the public has never fully let go of: Diana’s death and Charles’s role in that chapter of royal history. Almost thirty years later, the two families are still fighting over the same memories, just with book deals and viral clips now. Where do you land on this one, team Spencer or team palace?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.