‘How do you like it?’: Prince Harry and William try to avoid questions about Uncle Charles Spencer’s Diana memoir, then things get uncomfortable
A new book about Diana has put her sons in the spotlight
Prince Harry and Prince William may have their differences, but their latest public appearances had one thing in common. Neither seemed willing to discuss their uncle’s new book about their late mother, Princess Diana.
The timing was particularly uncomfortable. Charles Spencer’s memoir has already sparked controversy over his allegations about King Charles III. Now, questions about the book have reached Diana’s two sons, who have remained publicly silent.
According to PEOPLE, reporters approached the brothers separately during appearances in London on consecutive days. With Harry’s rumored Diana film already attracting attention amid the brothers’ strained relationship, their uncle’s memoir has brought their mother’s story back into the spotlight.
Their uncle had plenty to say, though
Harry, 42, was the first to encounter questions about Swan Song: Diana, My Sister. On September 21, he arrived at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel for the WellChild Awards when a reporter called out, “Have you spoken to your uncle in the last few days?” The Duke of Sussex did not answer and continued into the hotel.
The following day, William, 44, faced a similar situation while attending an engagement celebrating the British film industry at ActOne Cinema in London. A reporter asked the Prince of Wales, “So, how do you feel about your uncle’s book? How do you like it?” William walked inside without acknowledging the question. Neither brother has publicly commented on the memoir, which was released on September 22.
Their silence comes despite Spencer’s assurance that both princes knew about the project before its publication. During an interview at Althorp, the Spencer family’s ancestral home, the 62-year-old revealed that he informed William, Harry and their aunts, Lady Sarah and Lady Jane, about the book at exactly the same time. He also disclosed that Harry had expressed concern about whether the memoir contained anything embarrassing about him.
Spencer reassured his nephew that it did not. He explained that the brothers appear in the memoir primarily as two young boys who lost their mother. He also maintained that he had taken care not to compromise their privacy. Speaking about Harry’s reaction, Spencer said, “I can say that Harry is completely fine about it.” However, he did not provide an equally clear account of William’s feelings.
The memoir has attracted particular attention for Spencer’s allegations about King Charles’s behavior following Diana’s death in August 1997. Spencer claims that Charles sounded unusually happy when he learned of his former wife’s death. He also alleges that the then-Prince of Wales made a dismissive remark about Diana during an argument over whether William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin.
Spencer recounts Charles allegedly telling him, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!” Buckingham Palace issued a rare response, suggesting that grief could have affected Spencer’s recollection of the conversation. The author has rejected that explanation and maintains that he accurately remembers the King’s words.
The dispute adds to the public attention surrounding Diana’s legacy, which has remained important to both princes. Harry has also pursued legal action against the publisher of The Sun, securing an apology and substantial damages over unlawful activities involving him and his late mother.
Spencer has acknowledged that his nephews might be concerned about the memoir’s portrayal of their father. However, he insists that his intention was not to write a scandalous account of the King. He said he deliberately left out material that could have made the book considerably more controversial.
The author decided to write the memoir as the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death approaches in 2027. He describes it as an opportunity to tell his sister’s story from his perspective. For now, neither William nor Harry has indicated whether he intends to address the book publicly.
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