Memoir by Princess Diana's brother flies off the shelves

Buckingham Palace ​hit back immediately, saying the king was "mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, judgment and memory", ​as it sought to prevent the king from being dragged back into one of the royal ⁠family's most damaging periods. Top of the charts.

Charles Spencer, the brother of Britain's late Princess Diana is interviewed by journalist Laura Kuenssberg, as part of the documentary "Princess Diana: My Sister’s Story" at the Althorp Estate, Britain, in this handout picture released on September 19, 2026. PHOTO: Reuters.

The book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister", was released in Britain on Tuesday, where allegations contained ​in pre-released excerpts have dominated newspaper front pages for almost a week, helping send it straight to the top of the ​bestseller list on Amazon.

Outside a central London bookshop, Chris Imafidon, 71, said he bought a copy after being intrigued by some of the allegations, which he did not see as credible. "There's a desire for one to be protective of your sister," he said.

For others, Diana, one of the most ​photographed women in the world, remains an icon, and the appeal of the "People's Princess" endures 29 years after she died ​in a car crash. "I just hope to hear more about her life with her family, growing up, and with her children," said Mary Scheible, ‌69.

Spencer ⁠said he wrote the book to set the record straight and because it was his duty "as an eyewitness to history". He said in the book that he spoke to Charles shortly after Diana's death was confirmed.

"Unlike my other callers, who were stunned, barely able to articulate their condolences and offers of help, he sounded giddily elated – like a lottery winner, I remember thinking at the ​time," he wrote, -released ​excerpts.

Charles Spencer, the brother of Britain's late Princess Diana is interviewed by journalist Laura Kuenssberg, as part of the documentary "Princess Diana: My Sister’s Story" at the Althorp Estate, Britain, in this handout picture released on September 19, 2026.

They had two children, William and Harry, but the relationship soon soured and, following years of briefing against one another in the media, they finally divorced in 1996.

That was a year after Diana "there were three of us in ⁠this marriage, ​so it was a bit crowded" in reference to Charles' relationship with ​Camilla Parker Bowles, whom he married in 2005. Spencer describes his book as an intimate, loving and honest portrait of his sister, who he said became a ​global icon overnight.