Earl Spencer Claims King Charles ‘Sounded Giddily Elated’ After Diana’s Death, Palace Denies

Earl Spencer alleges that King Charles, then Prince of Wales, reacted to the news of Princess Diana’s death with a demeanor described as “giddily elated, like a lottery winner.” The claim, detailed in Spencer’s upcoming memoir, has prompted a rare and strongly worded denial from Buckingham Palace. The assertion centers on Charles’s behavior in the immediate aftermath of the August 31, 1997, car crash in Paris.

Spencer’s book portrays a cold response from Charles following the news of Diana’s death, contrasting with the grief expressed by others. The dispute comes decades after Diana’s death, which continues to be a subject of public interest and scrutiny.

Beyond this royal dispute, other news includes Toys ‘R’ Us planning a comeback with 120 new stores, Warren Buffett stepping down as Berkshire Hathaway chairman, and millions across the US under alerts for intense heat and flash flooding. Diesel prices have also surged to record highs. A pilot survived after an F-16 jet crashed in Michigan during training, and news helicopter wreckage will be moved to an NTSB facility.

Where they differ

• The Daily Mail framed the story as a ‘war of words’ sparked by the book’s revelations, emphasizing the detailed and ‘searing’ nature of Spencer’s account.
• NBC News presented the claim as an excerpt from Spencer’s memoir, focusing on the specific quote about Charles sounding ‘giddily elated.’
• The Daily Mail highlighted the book's overall narrative, while NBC News focused on the immediate reaction to the claim and the Palace’s denial.

What is not yet known

• The specific details of Buckingham Palace’s denial beyond a general disagreement with Spencer’s portrayal remain unclear.
• The full context of Charles’s alleged reaction, as presented in Spencer’s memoir, is not fully detailed in the available reports.

Background

• Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, at the age of 36 [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-16].
• Following Diana’s death, there was disagreement over whether Princes William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin during the funeral procession [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-16].
• Buckingham Palace rarely comments on books or reports about the royal family, remaining silent following the release of Prince Harry’s memoir, “Spare” [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-16].
• Grief can affect reason, judgment, and memory, even years after a loss, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-16].

Our reading

Our reading is that a dispute has emerged between Earl Spencer and Buckingham Palace regarding Charles’s reaction to the news of Princess Diana’s death. The conflicting accounts, one alleging elation and the other citing the effects of grief on memory, suggest differing interpretations of events decades after they occurred. The Palace’s unusually strong denial indicates the sensitivity surrounding this particular claim and the potential for further scrutiny of Charles’s behavior.

What to watch

• The full details of Buckingham Palace’s denial, beyond the general disagreement, as they are revealed [article text].
• The publication of Earl Spencer’s memoir, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” to assess the full context of his claims [article text].
• Whether further media outlets report on the specifics of the alleged reaction, potentially corroborating or challenging Spencer’s account [article text].

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