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

Honestly why? What is the attraction this family have in airing their dirty laundry? It can’t be for money, he’s wealthy

So we are led to believe but many years ago when we visited Althorp House, the late Earl, Johnny Spencer was sitting rather forlornly at the till point of his Off- licence, while Raine presided graciously over the entrance ticket till!
And jolly expensive it was too, no reduction for our older children (10, 8)
So making a bob or two was not beneath them. A house and grounds like that cost a packet to maintain and the aristocracy are not know for the frugality of our late Queen!

In his eulogy Charles Spencer said:

' Finally , the one consolation is that Diana is now in
a place where no human being can ever touch her again.
I pray that she rests in peace.'

So why on earth is he stirring it all up again?

Well that’s insightful Maw thank you!

Suzanne Moore who used to write for the Guardian and now the Telegraph says today:

“Charles Spencer is clearly stewing in vitriol. And it doesn’t seem like a coincidence that he’s come out with this just as Harry, the king of perpetual grievance, has returned to the fray – and is now physically back in the country too.”

It must be awful to live with such anger, bitterness and hatred toward another. Maybe one day I'll feel sorry for him, but not today.

Ms Moore continues:

“The palace’s put-down of Spencer was elegant (“the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory”) despite the fact that the King is said to be incandescent with anger.

But, really, what does Spencer hope to achieve?”

@ Blessed Art
"* There are so many for whom these “royals” can do no wrong, deluded to believe being born into a particular family can make one infallible. *

Sounds like you've got Papal Infallibility and
The Divine Right of Kings all mixed up.

Suzanne Moore who used to write for the Guardian and now the Telegraph says today:

“Charles Spencer is clearly stewing in vitriol. And it doesn’t seem like a coincidence that he’s come out with this just as Harry, the king of perpetual grievance, has returned to the fray – and is now physically back in the country too.”^

It can’t have been planned - it takes ages to write and then publish a book, and by all accounts H&M only recently decided to return here, so I think she’s wrong there IMHO.

I can imagine on one level the King could see the pros of Diana no longer being around. That is hardly new speculation! I don’t think by the time all the leaks have appeared it will be worth buying the book. The Daily Mail always pick the most salacious bits so if you’re after them, you’ll be fed up with hearing about it before the book is even on sale!

If Charles sounded ‘giddily elated’ on the morning of Diana’s death, it could well have been shock. Imagine having to process such news, under the world’s spotlight, and having to break the news to her young sons. Plus inevitable feelings of regret, guilt, and yes, grief.

Let’s not forget how Charles Spencer went on to host the Diana Memorial Exhibition and Tours for several years after her death.

A good little earner for the Earl.

I'm reposting this photo from the BBC news website.
This is the face of a man who says he was ranted at by Charles only three months earlier, and who told him his dead sister would soon be forgotten. He looks perfectly comfortable in Charles' presence, that's not the expected demeanour of one so abused, so it's a mystery why he now wants to claim what he does knowing how hurt his nephews will be. I wonder if he even warned William and Harry of this awful content.
I don't believe him, I think at my most charitable he shares Harry's 'misremembered' memories syndrome. I realise he won't give a toss what I believe or don't believe. And it's not because I think King Charles is Mr Nice Guy, he's demonstrated that he can be impatient and angry on occasions.

Just making money from his dead sister, wouldn’t trust him at all

I think it would be extremely naive to assume the King didn’t say anything untoward during the emotional turmoil caused by Diana’s death. But I hardly thing he would be giddy and excited knowing how this would impact upon his sons and himself as well as the whole family. Nobody is a saint, including the Earl who has proved this beyond doubt by publishing this book attacking the King, and I wonder what someone else might be able to reveal about the Earl in a tell all book.
Let those without sin cast the first stone, or write the first book.

I’ve got this weird suspicion that it’s been planned to be released on purpose around the time harry and Meghan have returned to the UK. Harry and Meghan were at Althorp in July you don’t mean to say they didn’t know about the release and the contents of the book.

I was really shocked to hear that the king is reported by Earl Spencer to have appeared glad to hear of Diana's death and said that she would soon be forgotten. Whether or not it's true, that would be an awful thing to hear for Princes William and Harry.
But I have to admit that my thought on hearing of Diana's death was that, classically tragic as it was, it removed a problem from the royal family.

I wonder how this book will affect Harry’s relationship with Earl Spencer?

Will H believe every word about the alleged callous comments made by his father following his mother’s death?

If so, how will that stand with his insistence that he wants to rebuild his relationship with his father?

Where will Harry’s true loyalties lie?
What a mess.

Harry and William were at Balmoral with their father and grandmother when their mother died. They will know more of the truth of what happened in those awful days and the reactions of others than Spencer does.

Earl Spencer is a bitter and twisted man. His ranting 'speech' at Diana's funeral was despicable.

He managed to make it all about him.

Furthermore, he's on his fourth marriage........so how did the other three marriages go so badly wrong?

I believe that he needs the money, no wonder after his failed marriages.

All these books including Spare, written to show family in a bad light are disgusting. It's about revenge and money. I wouldn't read one never mind buy one. Talk about washing dirty linen in public, they thrive on it.

@juicylucy I agree . Any backlash against the King might benefit Harry and Meghan. It will be interesting to see where Harry’s loyalties lie. While doing an English degree we had to do a stylistic analysis of Spencer’s speech at Diana’s funeral. There were lots of hidden messages. It’s a bit rich from a man who supposedly beat his first wife .

FriedGreenTomatoes2

To be honest I really disliked his speech at Diana’s funeral, it was understandable given the emotion at the time, but it left the impression that it would be he alone who would bring up Diana’s sons, a travesty of what actually happened as, of course, they continued to be brought up by their father.

Who knows what actual input he had, given his own divorces and remarriages.

Spencer went to live in South Africa with his first wife soon after Diana’s death ‘for his children’s privacy’ - sounds familiar - and even though he returned to the UK when he divorced her he hardly saw the Princes over the years, Diana’s sisters have been much more involved in their lives and kept quiet about them.

eazybee

In his eulogy Charles Spencer said:

' Finally , the one consolation is that Diana is now in
a place where no human being can ever touch her again.
I pray that she rests in peace.'

So why on earth is he stirring it all up again?

That remark would have been directly aimed at King Charles. Earl Spencer hates him and with a soft spot for Harry will not miss a chance to stick the knife in.

Diana’s impact on the royal family and the public’s attitude to them continues. She will long be the subject of social and historical interest. Charles Spencer is a respected historian who has written his ‘truth’ to mark the significant anniversary of her tragic death.

One experience that Charles shared with Diana and Charles Spencer was what would now be seen as an emotionally damaging childhood. the men I know who were sent off as small boys to boarding school still talk about their dreadful experiences.
It’s interesting many posters judge Charles Spencer for failed marriages, Diana for all manner of things, without acknowledging the impact of their childhood. There seems to be a need to take sides, team H and M, team William and Catherine. Now we have team royal family against team Spencer

We can’t know who said what -anyone who has tried to talk through and remember significant family experiences will experience memories vary. I suspect that’s particularly so with difficult emotionally charged events like divorce, affairs, bereavement

Something very unpleasant about a brother carrying such hatred for his sister's ex-husband after all these years, particularly when he had refused her request to stay in one of his properties on the Althorp estate in the summer shortly before her death. Had he agreed she probably wouldn't have been racketing about the continent with Dodi.

All the publicity will sell the books for Spencer, and I think this is the last Diana hurrah. We all know already about his animosity towards the king, and his own weaknesses, so it will be taken with a large pinch of salt. I think its going to be a short lived trauma for Charles, and William won’t say anything I wager, so will escape unscathed to fight another day.