King Charles Friend Reveals His Next Move as Charles Spencer Continues Diana Claims

King Charles is unlikely to respond again to Charles Spencer’s continuing claims about Princess Diana according to a friend of the monarch, who says the King is “saddened” that painful episodes from the past are being revisited.

Buckingham Palace’s unusual decision to address one of Spencer’s claims appears not to have ended the disagreement, with Diana’s younger brother continuing to discuss recollections contained in his forthcoming memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.

Spencer’s book revisits his sister’s life and includes personal accounts involving Charles and other members of the Royal Family, bringing renewed attention to one of the monarchy’s most difficult periods.

Diana remained enormously popular following the breakdown of her marriage to Charles, and events surrounding their divorce and her subsequent death continue to generate considerable public interest nearly three decades later.

The renewed examination of those years comes at a sensitive time for Charles, who continues carrying out his responsibilities as monarch while undergoing cancer treatment.

A friend of the King has now offered an indication of how Charles is privately approaching the situation, suggesting he would prefer to concentrate on the future rather than repeatedly revisit old family disagreements.

“He is saddened that the sorrows of old are being dragged up again,” the unnamed friend told The Sunday Times while discussing the impact of Spencer’s disclosures.

The friend also suggested Charles remains focused on broader responsibilities, saying: “The King was more concerned about the future of mankind than the unkind claims of one man picking at the scars of the past.”

That description represents the friend’s account of Charles’ feelings rather than a direct statement from the monarch, who has not personally spoken publicly about Spencer’s forthcoming book.

It is now believed Buckingham Palace is unlikely to respond individually to every further allegation, partly because doing so could generate additional attention for the memoir and prolong the public disagreement.

That would represent a return to the Palace’s usual approach. Royal officials generally avoid commenting on books, something Buckingham Palace itself acknowledged when it made its rare intervention over Spencer’s earlier claim.

“While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle,” the Palace spokesperson said, before explaining that the King was mindful of how intense grief could affect memories of deeply painful events.

The statement continued that “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.”

With further revelations expected from Spencer, Charles now appears more likely to leave that statement standing rather than enter a continuing exchange. If his friend’s account is accurate, the King’s next move may simply be to remain silent and keep his attention on his present responsibilities.