Seems it’s now Harry’s uncle - the Earl of Spencer - having his turn at a “tell all” book.

There is much allegation and counter-allegation surrounding Earl Spencer and frankly that's not important. What is important is that he is about to make even more wealth from a book about his deceased sister whose second son is out of cash and who has a wife who always has her eye to the main chance. It's inconceivable that Harry did not see the publication of this book in the context of his desired return, or that when he visited Althorp Estate a month or so ago he and his wife didn't look around and wonder how they might somehow tap into this too once back on UK soil. I personally am very interested to see whether this book promotes a closer bond between the Earl and Prince Harry ... and then ...

This creeps been married 4 times says a lot about him

icanhandthemback

I see no reason to disbelieve Earl Spencer based on the palace putting out a statement. The King is perfectly able to remember things differently as can anybody who has a mind to. There are many things reported on the shocking things Charles said to Diana, he is known for being bad tempered at times and quite frankly, had he been anyone other than the King, he would have had no say in Diana's funeral at all as they were divorced. I don't think his very public role at the funeral was anything other than Charles trying to win back the public's adoration which had suffered enormously with his affair with Camilla.
That said, I don't suppose there is much love from the Earl of Spencer for Charles either. However, he is as entitled as anyone to put his side of the story. I'm not sure it is a book I'd buy nor would I put my life on the line to suggest it was truth or lies. Ask different people what happened at a single situation and you will get different stories with the emphasis on various different points. Unless you keep records of incidents that happened so long ago, I think it is quite possible that both sides will have justified their actions with the retelling of their stories, either to others or themselves, and there will be a vast difference over the years as to what actually happened. Scientifically, this is a known thing and that memory becomes completely true in your mind and completely true in someone else's. No wonder recollections differ!

Very interesting analysis. I plan to read the book and decide what to believe from the wider context. Emotions were obviously running very high. Other than malice, I can’t see what Spencer has to gain from inventing the story, although I can see why the King would want to deny it. I’ve seen Spencer on TV a number of times and he came over as a sympathetic and likeable character, whatever his marital record might suggest about him!

Very interesting analysis

"I see no reason to disbelieve"
"There are many things reported"
"I don't think"
"I don't suppose"

All of which suggest supposition not fact-based analysis.

"Unless you keep records of incidents that happened so long ago, I think it is quite possible that both sides will have justified their actions with the retelling of their stories, either to others or themselves, and there will be a vast difference over the years as to what actually happened. Scientifically, this is a known thing and that memory becomes completely true in your mind and completely true in someone else's. No wonder recollections differ!"

That is the truth of it. Recollections will vary, those involved want to self-justify; there could be glimmers of truth, much embellished, or none whatsoever.

I honestly believe someone writes this sort of book as they are wanting very strongly to put over their point of views and what they feel is the truth.

I wonder what Diana's sisters Jane and Sarah think of this and whether or not they support their brother Charles in writing this?

But I feel for William and Harry, one feels should just be left alone now after all these years, will bring up more unhappy memories for them and they have both been through enough losing their mother.

I wonder what Diana's sisters Jane and Sarah think of this and whether or not they support their brother Charles in writing this?

That thought crossed my mind too, mrsgreenfingers56.

It usually takes two to ruin a marriage, Irismarle and anyone who knows enough about Boarding School Syndrome would know that often relationships are difficult for the boarder to negotiate as they have missed all the relationship role modelling day pupils experience. Take into account that he came from a highly charged family rupture with his mother abandoning him along with the very acrimonious divorce, it is hardly surprising that he struggled to make his marriages work.
However, being a flawed person doesn't necessarily make you more of a liar. Wanting to keep your institution going when it is under scrutiny because of your brother might make you more likely to make a statement rather than the old, never complain, never explain scenario!

GoldenAge

There is much allegation and counter-allegation surrounding Earl Spencer and frankly that's not important. What is important is that he is about to make even more wealth from a book about his deceased sister whose second son is out of cash and who has a wife who always has her eye to the main chance. It's inconceivable that Harry did not see the publication of this book in the context of his desired return, or that when he visited Althorp Estate a month or so ago he and his wife didn't look around and wonder how they might somehow tap into this too once back on UK soil. I personally am very interested to see whether this book promotes a closer bond between the Earl and Prince Harry ... and then ...

Apparently the Earl and Harry are very ‘close’….hmmmn, explains a lot.

Completely agree with your post icanhandthemback.

Thank you, Plevey08.

I watched his interview with Gyles Brandreth. I thought he spoke well and honestly.

What good will come out of this book, other than money for its author? When I first heard of it I thought it was coming out in time for the anniversary of Diana's death and was yet to be written. Now it explains the sudden arrival of the Sussexes.
I wonder if the book will contain any of the the charming anecdotes about how much Diana and Charles hated their stepmother Raine to the point that when Johnny Spencer died the new Earl threw her out of the house the following day, and Diana supervised the packing of her clothes, first into suitcases then when the Spencer arms were noticed they were removed, stuffed into binbags and Charles Spencer climbed the stairs to kick them down to the bottom. All her staff were fired without notice.
Charles Spencer appears to be one of those men who nurtures his anger and resentment, must be hell to live with, and feels the anniversary of his sister's death is the right time to release it, no matter how much it unsettles his already unstable nephew and darkens his sister's memory.
Such spite, and actually, such hatred.

He knows that the Royal family don't get involved and will keep their councel and will not sue him for slander. Basically a disgusting bit of hypocrisy having got through 3 or is it 4 marriages? His speech at Diana's funeral was a disgrace with his 'holier than thou' attitude knowing that the Royal family had no option but to sit there, unable to fight back.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Honestly why? What is the attraction this family have in airing their dirty laundry? It can’t be for money, he’s wealthy. He must think it’ll be cathartic like his nephew imagined it would be if he told us all “his truth”. More mud slinging. Talk about making a bad situation worse.

It's'me,me,me' innit?

Why write this book now? Why not decades ago? £££

Re your post at 16:38 JenniRen (love the name btw) it makes sense and probably accounts for many estrangements within families. Sad really and yet understandable- each side convinced of ‘their truth’.

You make the same point Irismarle very cogently.

Apologies - it was icanhandthemback who made the point and Irismarle quoted it.

No worries Fallingstar duplications often happen 😊

I agree with the OP. The Tell All book by the Earl Spencer is mudslinging just as Harry’s was. Of course they are completely free to mudsling in a book, but is pretty low and reflects worse on them imho than on the person being targeted.
If the Earl was annoyed with what the King said after Diana died am pretty sure he expressed his anger at the time, which is how it should be, face to face, or on the phone, but not in a Tell All book decades later that just causes ill feeling all over again.

JenniRen

^Very interesting analysis^

"I see no reason to disbelieve"
"There are many things reported"
"I don't think"
"I don't suppose"

All of which suggest supposition not fact-based analysis.

"Unless you keep records of incidents that happened so long ago, I think it is quite possible that both sides will have justified their actions with the retelling of their stories, either to others or themselves, and there will be a vast difference over the years as to what actually happened. Scientifically, this is a known thing and that memory becomes completely true in your mind and completely true in someone else's. No wonder recollections differ!"

That is the truth of it. Recollections will vary, those involved want to self-justify; there could be glimmers of truth, much embellished, or none whatsoever.

We can't have a fact based analysis as it is a he said, she said situation. We can't "know", we can only suppose... which was really the thrust of my ramblings just as it is with Harry. Being a fly on the wall doesn't appear possible yet!

Earl Spencer has alleged that the King sounded “giddily elated – like a lottery winner” on the morning Diana, Princess of Wales died.

In his new book, the Earl claims that some people inside Buckingham Palace were “relieved – indeed, pleased” his older sister had been killed in a Paris car crash.

He suggests the then Prince Charles might have been pleased he was now “free” to marry Camilla Parker Bowles.

Tawdry isn’t it?
You should have kept some things zipped Spence.

(Including his own trousers?)
Seriously though, to publicly attribute emotions to somebody at the end of a telephone line is presumptuous to say the least, cruel and manipulative too.
How does anybody know what another person feels?
You can guess from observation, but given the traditional English upper class “stiff upper lip” who is honestly to say?

Well is all over the news and I imagine the lives of the King and Queen, and William and Harry, will be made very difficult right now as the past is raked over.
The Earl’s book has been described as ferocious in how it has attacked the King.
This should not be being played out publicly. Especially at a time when the King has suffered ill health and relations between the King and Harry are so delicate.
Is a nasty thing to do.

MawsRosie

(Including his own trousers?)
Seriously though, to publicly attribute emotions to somebody at the end of a telephone line is presumptuous to say the least, cruel and manipulative too.
How does anybody know what another person feels?
You can guess from observation, but given the traditional English upper class “stiff upper lip” who is honestly to say?

Well it’s done frequently on GN threads…