A single word answered weeks of speculation. When asked on live television whether he had spoken with his nephews since publishing his tell-all memoir about their mother, Charles Spencer replied simply, “Yes, I have.” That short confirmation has now become one of the most talked-about royal moments of the season. Charles Spencer has spoken to Prince William and Prince Harry since Diana book release, and the disclosure is reshaping public conversation about the royal family’s private tensions and public silence.
The memoir, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” has reignited old wounds tied to Princess Diana’s death and legacy. Spencer’s willingness to discuss his contact with William and Harry, while still guarding the content of those talks, has kept the story in headlines across major outlets.
Key Takeaways
- Charles Spencer confirmed on CBS Mornings that he has spoken with Prince William and Prince Harry since his Diana memoir was released.[2][3][12]
- Spencer says he did not seek approval from either prince before publishing and reassured Harry that nothing in the book would embarrass him.[1][2][11]
- He told William, Harry, and his sisters about the book at the same time, describing Harry as “completely fine about it.”[2][10][11]
- Buckingham Palace has publicly disputed Spencer’s claims about King Charles’s reaction to Diana’s death.[4][8][15]
- Both princes have avoided answering questions about the memoir during recent public appearances.[7][11]
What Charles Spencer Revealed About Talking to William and Harry
During an interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings, Spencer was asked directly whether he had been in touch with his nephews following the book’s release. His answer left no ambiguity. Charles Spencer has spoken to Prince William and Prince Harry since Diana book release, and he confirmed this without offering further detail about what was actually discussed.[2][3][12]
Spencer has been consistent in saying he keeps those conversations private. He has repeatedly told journalists that he does not disclose the substance of his exchanges with William or Harry, treating those talks as family matters rather than material for public commentary.[6][7][12]
Why Spencer Says He Skipped Royal Approval
One detail that stands out in recent interviews is that Spencer did not ask his nephews for permission before writing the book. He has said he was careful to protect their privacy throughout the process, even without seeking formal sign-off.[1][2][11]
According to Spencer, Harry did ask one specific question before publication: whether anything in the book would be embarrassing to him. Spencer says he reassured Harry that nothing of that nature was included.[1][2][11]
In a separate exclusive interview at Althorp, Spencer explained that he told William, Harry, and his two sisters, Lady Sarah and Lady Jane, about the memoir “exactly the same time.” He said he intentionally waited until later in the writing process to share the news, and he described Harry as being “completely fine about it.”[2][10][11]
The Claims Fueling Royal Tension
The controversy surrounding Spencer’s book centers on a handful of explosive claims. Among them is his account of opposing plans for William and Harry to walk behind Diana’s coffin as young boys, and his description of how “tiny, and slight, and bereft” Harry appeared during the funeral.[8][9]
The most disputed claim involves words Spencer attributes to then-Prince Charles shortly after Diana’s death. Spencer says Charles told him, “we’ll forget her soon enough.”[4][8][15]
Buckingham Palace has firmly rejected this portrayal. Palace representatives dispute Spencer’s characterization of King Charles as feeling “pent-up contempt” for Diana or being “giddily elated” after her passing, arguing this contradicts the compassion and grief Charles reportedly showed at the time.[4][8][15]
In a follow-up conversation with the BBC, Spencer stood firm. He said, “those are exactly the words he said,” defending the accuracy of his memory despite the palace’s public denial.[5]
How William and Harry Have Responded in Public
Since the book’s release, both princes have largely avoided direct comment. Reports describe William and Harry sidestepping or dodging questions about their uncle’s memoir during recent public appearances, declining to engage with reporters on the topic.[7][11]
This public silence stands in contrast to Spencer’s own openness about having spoken with them privately. The gap between what is said behind closed doors and what is said in front of cameras has become a central thread in coverage of the story.
What Spencer Says His Nephews Already Know
A recurring theme across Spencer’s interviews is his claim that nothing in the book, including the most controversial quote attributed to King Charles, should surprise William or Harry. He has told both CBS and the BBC that he knows “the truth from all angles” and that these details will not be new information to his nephews.[6][7][12]
Commentary from outlets such as CNN and The New York Times frames Spencer as central to this latest royal dispute, connecting the memoir back to his 1997 funeral eulogy, in which he pledged to help shield Diana’s sons from institutional and media pressure.[13][15]
This framing suggests Spencer sees his current actions, including his willingness to confirm contact with William and Harry, as consistent with that decades-old promise, even as the palace pushes back on his specific claims.
The confirmation that Charles Spencer has spoken to Prince William and Prince Harry since Diana book release adds a new layer to an already sensitive family story. Spencer has been careful to separate what he will confirm publicly, that contact happened, from what he keeps private, the actual content of those talks. Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace’s pushback on his account of King Charles’s reaction to Diana’s death shows this dispute is far from settled.
Readers following this story should watch for further statements from Buckingham Palace, any direct comments from William or Harry, and additional interviews as Spencer continues promoting his memoir. For now, the clearest fact remains simple: private conversations have happened, but their contents remain firmly behind closed doors.
References
[1] Charles Spencer Spoke William Harry 192547572 – https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/charles-spencer-spoke-william-harry-192547572.html [2] Charles Spencer Spoken Nephews Prince William Prince Harry Since Princess Diana Book Release 12128015 – https://people.com/charles-spencer-spoken-nephews-prince-william-prince-harry-since-princess-diana-book-release-12128015 [3] Prince William Prince Harry Diana Book Latest 2252647 – https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/2252647/prince-william-prince-harry-diana-book-latest-2252647 [4] Cmvgyp871j03o – https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmvgyp871j03o [5] Cmqxvd1drd35o – https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmqxvd1drd35o [6] Cry4z1xykeleo – https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cry4z1xykeleo [7] Prince Harry And Prince William Dodge Questions About Charles Spencers Princess Diana Memoir – https://pagesix.com/2026/09/22/royal-family/prince-harry-and-prince-william-dodge-questions-about-charles-spencers-princess-diana-memoir/ [8] Princess Diana Brother Book – https://www.npr.org/2026/09/22/g-s1-144505/princess-diana-brother-book [9] Cqy7z21ekkrro – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqy7z21ekkrro [10] Charles Spencer Says Told Prince 185816812 – https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/charles-spencer-says-told-prince-185816812.html