Charles Spencer addressed hosting Prince Harry and his family at Althorp this summer during a public discussion with journalist Tina Brown in New York on September 29. Princess Diana’s younger brother also recalled a heated past disagreement with King Charles regarding Diana’s funeral procession, shining a new light on historical royal tensions while promoting his memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
During the event, Spencer described his evolving role as an uncle available to his nephews when needed. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children stayed at the Spencer family home in July, maintaining a close connection to the estate where Princess Diana is buried. “I’m just an elderly uncle who’s there if needed,” Spencer told the audience.
Reflecting on Family Support and Prince Harry’s Stay
When asked about the promise he made to Princes William and Harry during Diana’s funeral eulogy, Charles explained that his role had naturally changed as his nephews grew older. He noted that he felt able to acknowledge Harry’s summer visit because it was already a matter of public record.
Spencer emphasized that being available to his nephews did not mean intruding on their personal lives or decisions. “Yeah, I never intrude,” he told Brown. “There are things that he might talk about where I am totally happy to help.” He added that it was entirely up to Harry to decide what he wanted to discuss during their time together.
Addressing questions about Harry’s relationship with the United Kingdom and rumors of a potential relocation, Spencer offered a straightforward perspective. “But is it astounding that an Englishman wants to move back to England? I don’t think so,” he remarked, while steering clear of speculating on any specific property searches or arrangements.
Revisiting the 1997 Funeral Procession Row
Elsewhere in the discussion, Charles revisited his opposition to William and Harry walking behind their mother’s coffin in 1997, when they were 15 and 12 years old. He maintained his belief that Diana would not have wanted her young sons to undertake such a harrowing public procession, recalling a tense phone call with the then-Prince of Wales.
“The point is that this is a man with a temper, and I was very even that day,” Spencer claimed, alleging that the future King pointed to having walked in Lord Mountbatten’s funeral procession himself. Spencer recalled responding, “Yes, but you were 30 and he wasn’t your mother,” and alleged that the conversation ended with the monarch-to-be stating, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”
Buckingham Palace has previously challenged the memoir’s portrayal of these events. A palace spokesperson noted that “fraternal grief can cloud reason” and affect memory over time. While Tina Brown suggested during the talk that the then-Prince of Wales could simply have been distraught, Charles maintained that he remembered the emotional exchange with absolute clarity.
Memoir Motivations and Protecting Privacy
Spencer also discussed the broader context behind writing Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, explaining that numerous requests to participate in upcoming 30th-anniversary documentaries prompted him to document his memories permanently.
Before making the book public, Spencer informed his nephews, though he declined to share their exact private reactions out of respect for their privacy. He noted that he had reassured them regarding their inclusion in the text, emphasizing that their privacy had not been compromised. “It is a brother’s loving tribute to his sister,” Spencer concluded.
