Princess Diana’s brother fiercely defended his upcoming book in his first TV interview.
Earl Spencer insists he’s ‘telling the truth’ about Charles claims
Earl Spencer has delivered a scathing blow in his first TV interview since excerpts of his new book about the death of his sister, Princess Diana, were released. 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. On Friday (September 18), the author sat down with Laura Kuenssberg for his first TV interview, in which he insisted he is “telling the truth” about the explosive claims.
He told the broadcaster: “I can tell you here and now those are exactly the words he said. I’ve only ever had two calls on the line with Prince Charles at any stage of my life. I was hyper alert to what he was saying, and those are precisely the words that he said, and I promise that to you now. Genuinely, that is what he said. I don’t hear him saying he didn’t say that.”
Earl Spencer sat down with Laura Kuenssberg for his first TV interview ahead of his upcoming book (Image: BBC)
“He went ballistic, would be the right term. He started really going for my family as a whole in terms of their sense of duty not being adequate enough, and ranted for a while, I have no idea how long, but it was a significant period, and I just listened.
“And then he stopped, and I thought, ‘Ah, now he’s going to pull himself together and say something more appropriate’. And then he said, ‘We’ll forget about her soon enough’.” When he was asked about the “unprecedented” statement from the palace, Charles said: “Well, is he furious?
“Is he furious or is he embarrassed? They’ve sort of smudged that one, haven’t they? They’ve said that recollections may vary.” When Laura pressed him on whether he had the evidence to support his allegations, he added that he had told his family and friends at the time what had been said “because it was so monstrous”.
The bombshell 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. Shortly after the excerpt made headlines, a spokesperson from Buckingham Palace issued a strong rebuttal to the claims.
Diana’s brother says Charles ‘went ballistic’ in phone call after her death (Image: BBC)
It read: “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 judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.” The King, Prince William and Princess Catherine did not make any remarks on the allegations as they carried out royal engagements on Thursday afternoon (September 17).
The Duke of Sussex has also not spoken out about his uncle’s book, and its reflections on his parents’ relationship, when he was asked by reporters while attending the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in London. Shortly after the interview aired, viewers flocked to social media to share their thoughts online, with one user penning: “Why has the BBC even given Earl Spencer the time of day?
“This book is going to be a best-seller. Money, money, money. Let’s hope all the money made from the book goes to charity.” Another argued: “He’s fighting for his relevance. Silly man,” as a third agreed: “Left it a bit late to come out with this. Does Althorp House need a new roof or something?”
Another chimed in with: “Here we go. His five minutes of being in the spotlight. Making a few bob out of his dead sister. Not a nice man, me thinks.” A fifth quipped: “Someone is desperately trying to plug a book…”
Andy Burnham plotting new holiday tax raid – £3k per family
The Labour Government could tax families thousands.
Andy Burnham could tax families thousands for holidays (Image: Getty)
The Labour Government is considering plans for a tax raid on holiday cottages. John Healey is considering taxing holiday lets as second homes rather than as businesses in his maiden Autumn Budget on October 28.
It will add thousands of pounds to the cost of running them, with Alistair Handyside, chairman of the Professional Association of Self-Caterers, saying it could add between £1,000 and £3,000.
It could also have a knock-on effect on businesses around holiday lets, such as local pubs, restaurants, independent shops, and other tourism-related companies. This could mean Brits see increased prices or limited availability.
Richard Fuller, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said: “Labour has launched a £9bn business rates raid, compounding the damage done by its jobs tax and employer red tape.
John Healey will give his Autumn Budget on October 28 (Image: Getty)
“Now it is looking for ways to pull more and more people into scope for its crippling taxes, including with a holiday cottage tax. Labour should focus less on squeezing taxpayers dry and more on cutting the welfare bill so we can cut taxes and grow our economy.”
James Murray, a junior Treasury minister, confirmed in a written parliamentary answer that his department was reviewing “the tax treatment of short-term lets, such as self-catering accommodation”.
He said “concerns have been raised” about second-home owners using small business rates relief to manage tax liabilities. The shake-up could mean that all self-catered accommodation is subject to council tax rather than business rates.
Alistair Handyside, chairman of the Professional Association of Self-Caterers, said: “The average self-catering business owns 1.2 properties and it is usually a second income, often run by working mothers or retired people, who have already been hit by 25 Government interventions in the past four years.
“The self-catering sector is already declining, and a lot of people will decide it’s just not worth it any more. I can tell you that the Government already takes more money out of my business every year than my wife and I do.
“What the Government doesn’t realise is that holiday lets provide the bed space for people visiting areas that don’t have the hotel spaces that London and big cities have.
“If the bed spaces decline, so does the local economy, because pubs, restaurants, butchers, all sorts of businesses only stay in profit because of the annual influx of tourists.
“So I would just say to the Government, be careful what you wish for.”
A Treasury spokesman said: “The Chancellor is fully focused on his priorities, to give families and businesses a bit of breathing space, back British jobs, and drive growth in every postcode, underpinned by a commitment to meet the fiscal rules.
“As has always been the case, decisions on tax are a matter for the Chancellor to set out at fiscal events, rather than routinely commenting on rumour, speculation or proposals.”