Prince Harry 'span out of control' after mother Diana's death, Earl Spencer's bombshell book claims
Prince Harry 'span out of control' after mother Diana's death, Earl Spencer's bombshell book claims
Susanna Siddell Fri, September 18, 2026 at 8:56 PM UTC
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Prince William, Prince Harry on day of Diana's funeral | Source: GETTY
Earl Spencer's bombshell book has claimed that Prince Harry "span out of control" following the death of his mother, Diana.
Charles Spencer, 62, said that Prince William was his "secondary" concern on the day of the late princess's funeral due to his maturity.
According to the book, titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which is being serialised in the Daily Mail, Diana's brother alleged there was a "lack of obvious care" for the 12-year-old Duke of Sussex on the emotional day.
The explosive claim is just one of a multitude of allegations, causing Buckingham Palace to break with convention and issue a public statement.
In the latest snippet, the earl opened up about his thoughts on the journey from the official ceremony in Westminster Abbey to Diana's childhood home in Northamptonshire.
He wrote: "I could not get over how tiny, and slight, and bereft, Harry looked.
"Too small to be doing this, I thought, and wondered how on earth this heartbroken child could bear the ordeal of that moment, or how he could possibly be expected to deal with the agony that the day ahead would insist upon.
"William, although doubtless suffering equally terribly, looked more self-possessed. He was the image of his mother then: tall and handsome and dignified.
"Although I cared deeply about what he must be going through, his greater composure and maturity made him my secondary concern that morning."
"My chief memory on the train journey to Althorp is of being concerned for the lack of obvious care for Harry...," Earl Spencer penned.
"He needed Diana’s hugs, of course, and they would forever be denied him.
"But instead of calm and nurture, he was allowed to spin out of control.
"I have often looked back, reckoning that a more caring hand at such points as this would have helped him enormously in the future.
Royal Family and Earl Spencer on day of Diana's funeral | Source: GETTY
"Instead, he seemed so very alone in his despair and torment."
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Earl Spencer appeared to disregard the feelings of Diana's elder son, William, due to his "tall, handsome and dignified" appearance – despite being only 15 years old at the time of the tragedy.
During the official ceremony in London, Earl Spencer claimed King Charles "tried to take charge" and said he would walk between his sons during the funeral.
However, the earl wrote: "Prince Philip overruled him, in an even voice that closed down any possible dissent. 'No, that isn’t how we will do it,’ he said.
"Then, nodding towards me, he continued: 'Charles is representing his sister and their family, so he will walk in the middle, with William and Harry either side of him, and you and I will be on the outside flanks.'"
Earl Spencer appeared to whip up a much kinder depiction of Prince Philip, saying his "usual gruffness replaced by a calm and quiet kindness".
"He was clearly determined to help his motherless grandsons in their walk to the funeral, and he did so with grace," he added.
The 62-year-old said Charles appeared "pained" by being shut down by his father "but capitulated to his father’s authority without a word".
Before setting off from St James's Palace at the start of the day, the earl also reflected on the first interaction he had with Charles since his initial phone call after Diana's death.
"I had had no contact with Prince Charles since hanging up on him after he had disrespected Diana and disparaged our family’s sense of duty," Earl Spencer said.
He has previously stirred the pot after claiming that Charles was "giddily elated" on the night of his ex-wife's death.
He spotted William and Harry in a side room after being ushered along a series of corridors, adding the whole ordeal must have been "unsettling" for the two grief-stricken boys.
However, he admitted he was "impressed" by their composure, given the "impossible" circumstances.
Earlier this week, Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "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."
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