Prince William and Princess Kate appear to have avoided becoming further embroiled in fresh family crises and the growing King Charles and Charles Spencer dispute by keeping their focus on royal duties and refusing to publicly engage with the controversy surrounding Princess Diana.
The Prince and Princess of Wales came under scrutiny as the dispute intensified following the publication of Spencer’s memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister and the subsequent response from Buckingham Palace.
The Palace’s decision to address the book generated significant attention after Charles Spencer revisited disputed memories surrounding Diana and her former husband, including an alleged remark attributed to the then-Prince Charles.
One of the most discussed claims concerned Spencer’s recollection that Charles, following an angry exchange, allegedly suggested that Diana would eventually be forgotten.
Buckingham Palace did not directly address the specific allegation but issued a carefully worded statement, saying that while it did not comment on books as a matter of principle, the King was mindful that grief can affect judgment and memory many years after a loss.
The response itself became part of the controversy, with some royal commentators questioning whether it was wise for the monarch to become involved in a dispute surrounding a family memoir.
Against that backdrop, William and Kate adopted a notably different approach by continuing with their public responsibilities rather than responding to the claims or becoming involved in the increasingly heated discussion.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond said she believed the Waleses had chosen the right strategy, particularly after questions emerged about the accuracy of at least one part of Spencer’s memoir.
“I think it was the right tactic,” Bond said, adding that William and Catherine had also made the right decision by ignoring the noise and allegations surrounding the dispute.
The couple’s decision to remain focused on their work meant they were able to continue meeting members of the public and carrying out engagements without becoming directly associated with the escalating disagreement.
Bond compared their approach with the way William and Kate have previously handled controversies surrounding Harry’s memoir, suggesting that refusing to engage publicly can prevent royal family disputes from dominating their own work.
The situation was nevertheless a potentially difficult one for William, given that the controversy involved his late mother and his father, while Spencer is his maternal uncle.
Adding another layer to the situation, renewed discussion surrounding a possible documentary about Diana also emerged, with reports that William had declined an approach to participate rather than risk being placed in a public comparison with Harry.
That decision allowed the future King to remain outside another potentially divisive debate over his mother’s legacy while continuing to concentrate on his own royal responsibilities.
Bond said the Waleses had effectively “risen above the row,” refusing to acknowledge questions publicly and instead continuing to engage with the people who came to see them.
The strategy has allowed William and Kate to maintain a degree of distance from a dispute that could easily have drawn them into questions about Diana, Charles and Spencer.
While the wider controversy surrounding Spencer’s memoir remains unresolved, there is no indication that the Prince and Princess of Wales intend to become publicly involved in the dispute.
For now, their quiet approach appears to have kept the focus on their own work, allowing them to move forward without adding another voice to an already complicated royal family controversy.
