Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, has announced he will publish a tell-all memoir about his sister Princess Diana, titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, set for release on 22nd September 2026. The 62-year-old aristocrat and author promises to 'tell the truth' about the late royal, offering new revelations and personal memories nearly three decades after her death.
Earl Spencer's decision to write the memoir
In a statement, Spencer revealed that almost 29 years after Diana's tragic passing, he has been 'inundated yet again with requests for interviews about my sister', which prompted him to write the book. He explained that the memoir aims to clear up 'untruths' that have become accepted over time. 'This has convinced me to write down my own thoughts and memories, once and for all, rather than having the discomfort of again reading the opinions of others, many of which are based on untruths that have become accepted over time,' he said.
The book is scheduled for publication in late September 2026, just ahead of the 30th anniversary of Princess Diana's death in August 2027. Spencer wants to 'speak on her behalf' and share his perspective with fans who may not have known Diana in her 'heyday'. He added: 'The aim of this book is to tell the truth about Diana from her brother's perspective, just as I attempted to do when speaking at her funeral.'
Content and promises of the memoir
Spencer emphasised that the memoir will be a positive tribute to his sister. 'I hope this book will be of interest to the many who still cherish the memory of Diana when she was alive, and I would be delighted if those too young to remember her in her heyday feel – after reading this – that they 'get' who she really was: a one-off dynamic character, full of love, charisma and self-doubt, who gave life a hell of a go, and left the world a better place, despite exiting the stage while still so young,' he stated.
Penguin Random House UK's publishing director Daniel Bunyard described the book as one of 'historic importance' written from an 'intimate' point of view. 'Charles Spencer is both a loving brother and an acclaimed memoirist as well as a celebrated historian, and all these facets are brought together in Swan Song,' Bunyard said. 'It is extraordinarily moving, beautifully written and remarkably candid, in no small part due to Charles' rare ability to access great emotional depth without sentimentality, honest observation without rancour, and warmth without gloss.'
Background on Princess Diana's death and legacy
Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997 at the age of 36, alongside her then-partner Dodi Fayed. She had been dating Fayed after her divorce from Prince Charles, now King Charles III. Diana left behind her two sons: Prince William, who was 15 at the time, and Prince Harry, who was 12. The Spencer siblings grew up together at Althorp House, the family estate that has been the Spencer family home for over 500 years.
Bunyard added: 'While these pages contain many revelations that will draw considerable attention, readers will find, for the first time, but also for all time, a fitting tribute to the beloved woman who was Princess Diana.' The memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister will be published by Penguin Random House UK on 22nd September 2026.
