Princess Diana’s brother writes that he became concerned about Harry, 12, after her funeral when he saw a ‘lack of obvious care’

Charles Spencer is speaking out with some heavy claims regarding the treatment of Prince Harry following the funeral of Princess Diana in September 1997. In a new excerpt from his upcoming book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, the 9th Earl Spencer reflects on the aftermath of that day, specifically highlighting his concern for his then 12-year-old nephew.

As reported by Page Six, Spencer describes a train journey from London to the Spencer family estate, Althorp, where Diana was laid to rest. He explains that his primary memory from that trip is the lack of support offered to Harry as he tried to process the events of that morning. 

Spencer writes, “My chief memory of that train journey is of being concerned at the lack of obvious care for Harry, as he decompressed from the ghastliness of the morning.” He adds, “He needed Diana’s hugs, of course, and they would forever be denied him. But instead of calm and nurture, he was allowed to spin out of control.” 

Both boys reportedly faced a very difficult public experience

Before that train ride, Harry and his brother, Prince William, were part of the funeral procession to Westminster Abbey. Walking alongside their father, then Prince Charles, as well as Prince Philip and Spencer, the two boys endured an incredibly difficult public ordeal. 

Spencer recalls how striking it was to see Harry in that setting. He notes, “I could not get over how tiny, and slight, and bereft, Harry looked. Too small to be doing this, I thought, and wondered how on earth this heartbroken child could bear the ordeal of that moment, or how he could possibly be expected to deal with the agony that the day ahead would insist upon.”

Harry himself has reportedly spoken about this experience in the past, stating in 2017 that he did not believe a child “should be asked to do that under any circumstances.” These allegations are part of a larger narrative in the book that has already caused some tension. 

Spencer has also claimed that King Charles made a disparaging remark about Diana during a disagreement regarding whether the boys should participate in the funeral procession. According to Spencer, the now monarch allegedly said, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!” 

While Buckingham Palace has not commented on the book directly, a spokesperson did address the claims by saying, “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.”

Spencer has stood by his account, insisting in a BBC interview that he is “telling the truth.” He maintains that he was “hyper alert” during that conversation and stated, “I can tell you here and now, those are exactly the words he said.” The book also touches on the complex family dynamics of the time, with Spencer questioning why the King, who had finalized his divorce from Diana in 1996, had a role in the funeral at all.