Earl Spencer’s explosive tell-all book is set to hit shelves next week.
Angela Rippon tore apart Earl Charles Spencer ahead of the launch of his explosive new book (Image: Channel 5)
Former Strictly Come Dancing star, Angela Rippon, issued a scathing blow to Earl Charles Spencer following excerpts of his upcoming book about the death of his sister, Princess Diana. In the upcoming book, titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, King Charles III is accused of telling Spencer days after the late Princess of Wales’ death that “we’ll forget her soon enough”, according to quotes from the Daily Mail.
The explosive tell-all book is set to hit shelves next week and will reopen the events leading up to and following Diana’s untimely death, written from the perspective of her own Spencer family. On Friday (September 18), the TV veteran joined Jeremy Vine on his Channel 5 lunchtime show, where they discussed the latest revelations from the book.
She fumed: “The two Charles’ hate each other. They never have liked each other and this is the result of a 30-year grudge. I really do just feel that there were faults on both sides from both families.
“I mean, we heard that Diana’s own father said, ‘You must go ahead with the marriage’, even though she had doubts. I just think that we should let her rest in peace; she was the victim.”
Her fellow guest, Owen Jones, argued that Charles Spencer’s book balances Palace press domination surrounding her passing. He suggested: “I think calling it a grudge [isn’t right].
“I think he has well-founded grievances against King Charles because of the way he treated his sister. I think that’s completely reasonable. I think anybody in that situation would be very unhappy with the King.
“I think his behaviour towards her at the time was monstrous, that’s my own personal view. But I also think, more broadly, that Diana’s side of the story is basically erased. She’s dead, we can’t hear from her, and the institution of the monarchy and the media support that they get means that one side of the story is constantly projected.
“It’s seen as somehow kind of treasonous because he’s the head of state to challenge it. I think the only way we can get an insight into what Princess Diana thought at the time is through her brother. How else do we hear her side of the story?”
The Rip Off Britain presenter ended the conversation by stating: The marriage was arranged. The marriage was not a love match. The sadness is that Diana was a victim of a system, if you like, and she was not prepared for it.”
It didn’t take long for viewers to flock to X – formerly known as Twitter – to share their thoughts on the explosive on-air clash. One user pointed out: “Charles Spencer’s behaviour isn’t without question, too. He had four wives; he should be the last to speak.”
Meanwhile, another argued: “Totally agree with Angela Rippon. Diana should be left to rest in peace. The past you can’t change; you can only learn from it. Diana wasn’t supposed to die at 36 years old.” A third chimed in with: “I am with Angela Rippon, let the poor woman rest.”