Prince Charles made “offensive” remarks about Diana after her death, Royal biography reveals

In an excerpt from his latest novel, Battle of Brothers: William and Harry – The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult, royal historian and biographer Robert Lacey disclosed that when her funeral plans were being made, Charles said something “offensive” about his late ex to her brother, Charles Spencer.

Spencer had been in “heated” talks with palace officials about his sister's funeral plans, according to People, which reported the early extract. Spencer was particularly worried about his nephews, Prince William, 15, and Prince Harry, 12, accompanying their mother's coffin in the procession to Westminster Abbey.

Spencer was certain that Diana would have been appalled at the prospect of her sons having to go through such an ordeal,” Lacey writes. He'd already told Charles of this.  Apparently, one of the conversations ended with the earl throwing the phone down on his brother-in-law after Charles made an especially insulting remark about Diana.

Lacey didn't say what the offending remark was, but did expand on the point, writing:

“Prince Charles had no doubt that he should walk the long route with both his sons beside him. But Uncle Charles Spencer did not agree. He was already angry on his family's behalf that his sister's funeral had been hijacked into a royal occasion, and he was particularly opposed to the idea that his young nephews should have to walk the best part of a mile behind their mother's coffin through the streets. ”

Spencer's instincts seem to have been right, for what it's worth. Years later, Harry spoke out about the incident, saying that “under no conditions should any child be expected to do that.”

“My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long distance behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people who were watching me, while millions more were watching on TV. In no circumstance should any child be expected to do so, in my opinion ” he said in 2017.