The book, titled *Swan Song*, is a 400‑page memoir in which Spencer, Diana’s brother, recounts his relationship with her and offers a scathing portrait of the royal family, particularly his brother‑in‑law, the now‑King Charles. The memoir was serialised in the Daily Mail, which highlighted a passage in which Spencer says Charles “hissed” that the family would “forget her soon enough” shortly after Diana’s death.
Spencer says the memoir was prompted by a surge of interview requests as the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death approached, prompting him to take control of the narrative rather than allow a television producer to shape it. He also uses the book to address long‑standing grievances, ranging from the handling of his sister’s funeral to personal disputes with family members, former wives, and even the press.
Among the most striking allegations is Spencer’s description of Charles’s early treatment of Diana, including comments on her weight, coldness at parties and a claim that Diana once tried to break off their engagement. Spencer links these early tensions to the “lunacy” he perceives in the royal family’s conduct after Diana’s death, especially the decision to have Charles walk behind her coffin at the funeral before being stopped by Prince Philip.
The memoir also offers a more sympathetic view of Diana, interspersed with affectionate recollections and a defence of their mother, Frances, whom Spencer portrays as the source of Diana’s “spirited, mildly eccentric” character. While the book is peppered with personal vendettas, reviewers note that it provides a rare insider’s perspective on the family dynamics that shaped the public tragedy.
The release of *Swan Song* has already sparked media attention, with the Daily Mail’s front‑page story focusing on the alleged royal insult. Whether Spencer’s claims will prompt further scrutiny of the royal family’s handling of Diana’s memory remains to be seen, but the memoir adds another layer to the ongoing debate about the monarchy’s relationship with the late princess.