Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, will publish a book titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister on September 22, 2026. The book marks the first time Earl Spencer has spoken openly and at length about the late Princess Diana, aiming to correct public myths ahead of the 30th anniversary of her death.
Charles Spencer is preparing to release a book about his late sister, Princess Diana, nearly three decades after her tragic passing in August 1997. Titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, the upcoming publication is scheduled to hit shelves across the UK on September 22, 2026. According to the book’s publisher, the Penguin imprint Michael Joseph, the volume represents the first time Earl Spencer has spoken openly and at length about his sister.
Why Charles Spencer Decided to Write the Book Now
The catalyst for the project came from an overwhelming wave of media attention. With the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death approaching on the horizon, the earl found himself inundated yet again with requests for interviews about his sister. That persistent demand convinced him to document his own memories permanently rather than enduring the frustration of reading external accounts built on misinformation.
“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.”
Photo: BBC
Earl Charles Spencer
The author intends for the work to serve as a direct corrective to decades of speculative commentary. By drawing on his unique position as her younger brother, he seeks to portray her character accurately, framing the project around the same protective instincts he displayed decades ago.
“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. As with my eulogy, I want to speak on Diana’s behalf and do so in an openly positive way.”
Earl Charles Spencer
Reflecting on Childhood and the Legacy at Althorp
The book will trace Diana’s life through her brother’s eyes, starting from their early childhood together at the Spencer ancestral home of Althorp down to the heartbreaking week of her death in August 1997. Growing up as the youngest children of John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, and Frances Shand Kydd, Charles and Diana formed a close-knit bond that intensified as they navigated their parents’ turbulent divorce together. In past interviews, the earl has noted that because their two older sisters were away at school, he and Diana were very much in it together.
Throughout his adult life, the 9th Earl Spencer has continually worked to protect his sister’s memory. He delivered a eulogy at her funeral on September 6, 1997, at Westminster Abbey before a worldwide audience. In that address, he characterized her as the most hunted person of the modern age while praising her humanitarian spirit. Today, he maintains her legacy by caring for her final resting place at the Oval Lake Grave on the Althorp estate, which he visits almost daily, and by speaking out against inaccurate dramatizations of her life in popular media.
What Publishers and Readers Can Expect From the Release
Daniel Bunyard, publishing director at Penguin Michael Joseph, noted that the manuscript features many revelations that will draw considerable attention while simultaneously serving as a fitting tribute to the late princess. The volume addresses two distinct audiences: those who lived through her public life and cherish her memory, and younger generations who missed her active years.
Earl Spencer to 'tell the truth' about his sister Princess Diana in new book
Earl Spencer expressed a particular hope for younger readers who only know his sister through historical record. He wants them to recognize her as a one-off, dynamic character, full of love, charisma and self-doubt, who embraced life fully and left the world a far better place despite her tragically brief time in the spotlight.
