Earl Spencer has disclosed that Queen Elizabeth II offered to reinstate Princess Diana's 'Her Royal Highness' title on the day of her funeral, a gesture he declined as a 'consolation prize'. The revelation appears in his new book 'Swan Song, Diana, my sister', serialised by the Daily Mail and reported by Express.
Queen's offer relayed on Royal train
According to the Earl, Diana's younger brother, the late Queen's private secretary, Robert Fellowes, approached him during a journey on the Royal train to the Spencer family estate at Althorp in Northamptonshire. The Earl wrote: “When we had gone some miles, Robert beckoned me to follow him into a quiet corner of the carriage. I have just received a call from Her Majesty …and she would like to offer Diana her HRH title back.”
Earl Spencer replied: “That's very kind of the Queen, of course. But what's the point, Robert? Now? I mean – Diana's dead.” He decided to decline the offer, viewing it as a 'consolation prize'. Diana had lost the HRH title in 1996 when she divorced King Charles after 15 years of marriage, subsequently being styled 'Diana, Princess of Wales'.
Further claims about King Charles
The 62-year-old Earl has made additional claims about Diana's relationship with the Royal family. Earlier this week, Buckingham Palace issued a statement in response to his assertions that Charles said 'rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough' after Diana's death in a Paris car crash in August 1997.
The Palace statement, released on Wednesday (September 16), said: “While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful 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.”
Further book revelations
Earl Spencer has also claimed that Charles reacted like a 'lottery winner' upon learning of his ex-wife's death, and that both Diana and Charles had doubts about marrying ahead of their lavish July 1981 ceremony. The book continues to draw attention to the private dynamics within the Royal family during a period of intense public scrutiny.
