Earl Spencer has made a new claim about the late Queen Elizabeth II’s actions on the day of Princess Diana’s funeral, adding to revelations in his forthcoming memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
According to an extract published by the Daily Mail, Spencer claims the Queen offered to restore Diana’s Her Royal Highness (HRH) title, which she had lost following her 1996 divorce from then-Prince Charles.
Spencer said the offer was communicated to him by Robert Fellowes, the Queen’s private secretary and his brother-in-law, while they travelled by Royal Train to Diana’s private burial at Althorp. Spencer said he rejected the offer, describing it as a “consolation prize” and claiming that Diana had been deeply hurt by losing the title. He reportedly believed restoring it after her death would not have been what his sister wanted.
The revelation comes as Spencer’s memoir raises wider questions about the royal family’s handling of Diana’s death and funeral in 1997. He has also alleged that Charles reacted with apparent elation after Diana’s death and later told him during an argument over the funeral arrangements, “we’ll forget her soon enough.”
Spencer’s claims have drawn a rare response from Buckingham Palace. A palace spokesperson said grief can affect a person’s judgment and memory, without directly addressing the individual allegations.
The memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is scheduled for publication on September 22, 2026, and is expected to provide Spencer’s personal account of Diana’s life, her relationship with the Royal Family and the events surrounding her death.
