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Swan Song: Diana, My Sister
Beautiful. Beloved. Hunted. The extraordinary life and death of Diana, as told by her brother, Charles.
“When asked, ‘What was it like, growing up with Diana?’, my first thought is always, But I don’t know what it was like not to grow up with her…”
In September 1997, Charles Spencer stood in Westminster Abbey before a watching world and shared his grief at losing his beloved sister, Diana. Now, nearly thirty years later, he tells the astonishing story of his life with Diana and the tragic week of her death.
In childhood, Charles and Diana, the youngest Spencers, were inseparable – secretly calling one another Duch and Carlos. As each other’s closest confidantes, they roamed the family estate, endured extremely challenging boarding schools, survived terrifying nannies, and helped each other through the agony of their parents’ divorce.
Yet everything changed when Diana married the Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, and overnight became a global icon. Charles saw his older sister serve the world’s marginalized and relish being mother to her treasured sons.
But, pursued by a barbaric press as her royal marriage crumbled, she was left desperately alone. Charles always tried to be there for Diana – until that black night in August, 1997.
In Swan Song, Charles Spencer provides the most intimate, loving, and honest portrait yet of his sister.
“When asked, ‘What was it like, growing up with Diana?’, my first thought is always, But I don’t know what it was like not to grow up with her…”
In September 1997, Charles Spencer stood in Westminster Abbey before a watching world and shared his grief at losing his beloved sister, Diana. Now, nearly thirty years later, he tells the astonishing story of his life with Diana and the tragic week of her death.
In childhood, Charles and Diana, the youngest Spencers, were inseparable – secretly calling one another Duch and Carlos. As each other’s closest confidantes, they roamed the family estate, endured extremely challenging boarding schools, survived terrifying nannies, and helped each other through the agony of their parents’ divorce.
Yet everything changed when Diana married the Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, and overnight became a global icon. Charles saw his older sister serve the world’s marginalized and relish being mother to her treasured sons.
But, pursued by a barbaric press as her royal marriage crumbled, she was left desperately alone. Charles always tried to be there for Diana – until that black night in August, 1997.
In Swan Song, Charles Spencer provides the most intimate, loving, and honest portrait yet of his sister.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 22, 2026
I read a lot of nonfiction; mostly history, biographies, memoirs, etc. And the problems come in as to how to rate the book. Do you judge it by the quality of the writing or by the quality of the subject and author?
Well, as you can see, I gave it 5 stars, because no matter how lousy Charles Spencer is as a person, he’s a pretty good historian and author. He also comes off as an unpleasant and priggish person but clearly one who loved and valued his older sister, Diana, long before she became Princess of Wales.
Most people reading SWAN SONG will be familiar with the ultimately sad life of Diana. Earl Spencer knows the players, both Royal and not, and whether he’s correct in his facts and opinions, he’s written a good book.
Well, as you can see, I gave it 5 stars, because no matter how lousy Charles Spencer is as a person, he’s a pretty good historian and author. He also comes off as an unpleasant and priggish person but clearly one who loved and valued his older sister, Diana, long before she became Princess of Wales.
Most people reading SWAN SONG will be familiar with the ultimately sad life of Diana. Earl Spencer knows the players, both Royal and not, and whether he’s correct in his facts and opinions, he’s written a good book.
September 22, 2026
It is difficult to dismiss Charles Spencer’s recollections in "Swan Song." A conversation that cold and emotionally charged isn't something a person easily forgets. Even King Charles III has a well-documented history of losing his temper over something as small as a misplaced pen! Furthermore, Spencer's background as a trained historian lends significant credibility to his account; it is highly probable he maintained detailed journals even decades ago. This is very clear to me - the British media is savage and controls the narrative.
This memoir truly feels like his definitive "swan song." By waiting nearly thirty years to share this perspective-and given the Spencer family's long history of avoiding the press and refusing to monetize royal ties-his motivations feel entirely authentic. I find his account believable.
This memoir truly feels like his definitive "swan song." By waiting nearly thirty years to share this perspective-and given the Spencer family's long history of avoiding the press and refusing to monetize royal ties-his motivations feel entirely authentic. I find his account believable.
September 22, 2026
This was deeply moving and far more profound than the salacious extracts which the media have latched onto may suggest. The way this book has been sensationalised ironically proves many of Spencer's points about them.
As someone who was born after Diana(it strikes me after reading this, that we so often refer to her by only her first name, suggesting how close we still feel to her)'s untimely death, I appreciated the personal insights into what sort of person she was. I feel like so much of that has been lost in the circumstances of her death and her connection to the royal family, but she was an incredible humanitarian and I certainly feel a strange sense of grief, which I have never really felt before, that the world has been deprived of her presence. She should still be here, lending her voice to numerous worthy causes in an increasingly grim world and, of course, on a more personal level, being with the family who so clearly still desperately miss her.
A very well-written memoir and a gripping read. I couldn't put it down.
As someone who was born after Diana(it strikes me after reading this, that we so often refer to her by only her first name, suggesting how close we still feel to her)'s untimely death, I appreciated the personal insights into what sort of person she was. I feel like so much of that has been lost in the circumstances of her death and her connection to the royal family, but she was an incredible humanitarian and I certainly feel a strange sense of grief, which I have never really felt before, that the world has been deprived of her presence. She should still be here, lending her voice to numerous worthy causes in an increasingly grim world and, of course, on a more personal level, being with the family who so clearly still desperately miss her.
A very well-written memoir and a gripping read. I couldn't put it down.
September 22, 2026
Charles Spencer has written a glowing and moving paean to his sister, Diana, who though beautiful, famous, empathetic and a loving mother didn’t achieve a life of happiness which you would think would happened. She was a princess after all (when twelve I remember thinking that’s what I wanted to be only to be told by older sister I would have been a peasant - I think my sister was onto something).
I am among those who were very distraught the day Diana died. Like many who at times live vicariously (I still hadn’t reconciled myself to being a peasant) I admired her verve, her beauty and more importantly her empathetic efforts on behalf of others, remembering her hospital visits, being touched by her visit with Mother Teresa among other causes she championed. Spencer does evoke this sense and documents his great love for his older sister that has endured through time but more especially after their parents divorced. This appears to have been the seminal event in these two siblings’ lives that has driven their desire to be loved (Spencer certainly has had a checkered love life which he does allude to). So while the world loved her, its pursuit to know her was cruel at times.
Spencer shares childhood memories which though they lived very cozily seemed pretty normal though frugal. The entrance into the royal family changed that lifestyle and also brought with it rigid rules, press scrutiny and a loveless marriage. He portrays Diana as very much in love with Charles but from the small tidbits in the book Charles doesn’t come off well. Spencer also says he suffers from (as he maintains Diana did as well) rejection sensitive dysphoria - this occurs when a person is deliberately or accidentally rejected from social interactions or relationships which is explored a bit in the book - though since I know little about this condition I can only acknowledge that the excessive scrutiny end criticism by the British press might have given me its symptoms.
I really know nothing about the author beyond that he is Diana’s brother. So I found a review in The Guardian with the following: “For fans of petty grievances . . . the book is an absolute corker of resentment. . . and in Spencer we have a hero, who, decades after the fact, is still harping about [them].” Spencer has a great cast of characters to dump on. The worst to me was the perfidious Martin Bashar, though their evil stepmother, Raine, elicited the need for details. But Spencer is also a bit self-pitying - such as those references to that social condition, why he had to refuse to let Diana and her sons live at Althorpe, his agonizing efforts of writing his eulogy. A lot of the book seems to be more about him than her.
I listened to the book read by the author. I thought that it was well done. British royal geeks and lovers of Diana will undoubtedly want to read it. I concluded after listening to the book that being a peasant may be a whole lot better than being a princess.
I am among those who were very distraught the day Diana died. Like many who at times live vicariously (I still hadn’t reconciled myself to being a peasant) I admired her verve, her beauty and more importantly her empathetic efforts on behalf of others, remembering her hospital visits, being touched by her visit with Mother Teresa among other causes she championed. Spencer does evoke this sense and documents his great love for his older sister that has endured through time but more especially after their parents divorced. This appears to have been the seminal event in these two siblings’ lives that has driven their desire to be loved (Spencer certainly has had a checkered love life which he does allude to). So while the world loved her, its pursuit to know her was cruel at times.
Spencer shares childhood memories which though they lived very cozily seemed pretty normal though frugal. The entrance into the royal family changed that lifestyle and also brought with it rigid rules, press scrutiny and a loveless marriage. He portrays Diana as very much in love with Charles but from the small tidbits in the book Charles doesn’t come off well. Spencer also says he suffers from (as he maintains Diana did as well) rejection sensitive dysphoria - this occurs when a person is deliberately or accidentally rejected from social interactions or relationships which is explored a bit in the book - though since I know little about this condition I can only acknowledge that the excessive scrutiny end criticism by the British press might have given me its symptoms.
I really know nothing about the author beyond that he is Diana’s brother. So I found a review in The Guardian with the following: “For fans of petty grievances . . . the book is an absolute corker of resentment. . . and in Spencer we have a hero, who, decades after the fact, is still harping about [them].” Spencer has a great cast of characters to dump on. The worst to me was the perfidious Martin Bashar, though their evil stepmother, Raine, elicited the need for details. But Spencer is also a bit self-pitying - such as those references to that social condition, why he had to refuse to let Diana and her sons live at Althorpe, his agonizing efforts of writing his eulogy. A lot of the book seems to be more about him than her.
I listened to the book read by the author. I thought that it was well done. British royal geeks and lovers of Diana will undoubtedly want to read it. I concluded after listening to the book that being a peasant may be a whole lot better than being a princess.
September 23, 2026
As a massive fan of Diana ( prob read about 40 books about her life over the years ) there was no way I wasn’t going to read it…with some reservations, these reservations being partly proven right with the Piers Morgan rebuttal of ‘facts’ and the authors apology
That aside it is heartfelt and you are left with no doubt he loved Diana, the road to this love may not have always been clear but it was there and steadfast
Of course the day of Diana’s death is covered and like everyone took me back to that day and the complete shock and silence in our local ‘Safeway’ as people were too stunned to say anything and didnt know how to react to the unbelievable, never experienced anything since like it
Fascinating to read ( again ) of the family history and how Diana’s life evolved and very poignant to see how he wrote his eulogy and a very funny story how he managed to stop the ‘men in suits’ hearing it in rehearsals, also of his interactions with the then Prince Charles and of course his nephews Prince William and Harry
The day of Diana’s funeral is very emotive as he explains minute by minute how the day went, I didn’t realise the march behind the coffin was 2 miles long,it doesn’t seem 30 years since we all watched it
As say he obviously loved his Sister and it’s apparent throughout
No review will change anyones mind on the validity of this book or whether ES should have written it and what his motives were, monetary or otherwise, I tend to side with good motives but don’t judge anyone else’s opinions on the book or the author
Personally had to read it and so have!
That aside it is heartfelt and you are left with no doubt he loved Diana, the road to this love may not have always been clear but it was there and steadfast
Of course the day of Diana’s death is covered and like everyone took me back to that day and the complete shock and silence in our local ‘Safeway’ as people were too stunned to say anything and didnt know how to react to the unbelievable, never experienced anything since like it
Fascinating to read ( again ) of the family history and how Diana’s life evolved and very poignant to see how he wrote his eulogy and a very funny story how he managed to stop the ‘men in suits’ hearing it in rehearsals, also of his interactions with the then Prince Charles and of course his nephews Prince William and Harry
The day of Diana’s funeral is very emotive as he explains minute by minute how the day went, I didn’t realise the march behind the coffin was 2 miles long,it doesn’t seem 30 years since we all watched it
As say he obviously loved his Sister and it’s apparent throughout
No review will change anyones mind on the validity of this book or whether ES should have written it and what his motives were, monetary or otherwise, I tend to side with good motives but don’t judge anyone else’s opinions on the book or the author
Personally had to read it and so have!
September 22, 2026
Not really a traditional biography, it’s mostly an extension of his eulogy to Diana. I would’ve preferred something much more thorough and balanced but it’s clear that a lot of love and care still went into this.
September 22, 2026
Very insightful look into Diana’s early years and the days after the tragedy of her death. The press were utterly reprehensible to Diana - and Spencer himself - sadly, there are clear echoes in the treatment of Diana’s younger son and daughter-in-law playing out today with the constant stream of vicious articles appearing on a daily basis. The abuse seems perpetual.
I do believe the Earl regarding his conversation with the then Prince Charles where he said Diana “would soon be forgotten” in a fit of pique after meeting resistance at his plan to have William and Harry walking behind their mother’s cortège. Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s Director of Communications, confirmed in his published diaries that the boys were used as human shields to prevent the crowd’s verbal abuse towards Charles on that grief filled walk to the Abbey. Also, it’s true that a royal author and journalist - who was firmly in Charles’ camp during the “War of the Wales” and after the separation - wrote a piece where he states Charles “wished Diana nothing more than permanent oblivion”; you need to understand that he would have been briefed that.
It’s definitely a worthwhile read.
I do believe the Earl regarding his conversation with the then Prince Charles where he said Diana “would soon be forgotten” in a fit of pique after meeting resistance at his plan to have William and Harry walking behind their mother’s cortège. Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s Director of Communications, confirmed in his published diaries that the boys were used as human shields to prevent the crowd’s verbal abuse towards Charles on that grief filled walk to the Abbey. Also, it’s true that a royal author and journalist - who was firmly in Charles’ camp during the “War of the Wales” and after the separation - wrote a piece where he states Charles “wished Diana nothing more than permanent oblivion”; you need to understand that he would have been briefed that.
It’s definitely a worthwhile read.
September 22, 2026
I don’t think anyone is surprised I read this start to finish on release day.
Charles Spencer is first and foremost a great story teller. At no point did I feel lost in the order of things or question what the point was in him telling us what he did.
Of course people have their doubts as to how accurate his recollections are within here but isn’t that always the case with any book like this.
Taking it for what it is, knowing none of us will ever actually know what went on behind the scenes.. it was an enjoyable read and it felt like what he claims he wishes this to be - a brother’s final tribute to his sister.
Charles Spencer is first and foremost a great story teller. At no point did I feel lost in the order of things or question what the point was in him telling us what he did.
Of course people have their doubts as to how accurate his recollections are within here but isn’t that always the case with any book like this.
Taking it for what it is, knowing none of us will ever actually know what went on behind the scenes.. it was an enjoyable read and it felt like what he claims he wishes this to be - a brother’s final tribute to his sister.
September 22, 2026
This is a piece of garbage set out to damage everyone involved.
September 23, 2026
I remember waking up the day after my graduation party and putting on the radio. They said that Diana had died in a car crash. I rushed up the stairs to the kitchen, where my parents greeted the news with "that can't be right". I switched on BBC news. It was true.
I was too young too far away to have any memory of Diana's fairytale wedding. I was old enough to follow the deterioration of her marriage, the multitude of press escalated scandals, and the infamous interview where she said that "well, there were three of us in that marriage". For a decade I was fed pictures, books and magazine covers and articles of Diana. Then she was just gone.
I read Charles Spencer's autobiography about his boarding school days quite recently, and I was surprised at how well he wrote. Thus, as soon as I saw that he had a book coming out about his sister, the former Princess of Wales, and the mother of the future king, I pre-ordered it immediately.
The book starts with Diana's demise. One timeline continues from here until the funeral. The other timeline has Spencer's reflections on their childhood together, and her marrying into the monarchy. It is deeply personal, sad and reflective. There is a good dash of press and royalty bashing which is mostly very funny. I can well understand how the British monarchy has already had a formal statement on the book.
Charles Spencer's motivation for the book is to leave a truer record for posterity about a woman who was not, according to what her ex husband hissed at his brother in law, "forgotten soon enough". The author has done Diana a great justice, showing her complexity and humanity.
I was too young too far away to have any memory of Diana's fairytale wedding. I was old enough to follow the deterioration of her marriage, the multitude of press escalated scandals, and the infamous interview where she said that "well, there were three of us in that marriage". For a decade I was fed pictures, books and magazine covers and articles of Diana. Then she was just gone.
I read Charles Spencer's autobiography about his boarding school days quite recently, and I was surprised at how well he wrote. Thus, as soon as I saw that he had a book coming out about his sister, the former Princess of Wales, and the mother of the future king, I pre-ordered it immediately.
The book starts with Diana's demise. One timeline continues from here until the funeral. The other timeline has Spencer's reflections on their childhood together, and her marrying into the monarchy. It is deeply personal, sad and reflective. There is a good dash of press and royalty bashing which is mostly very funny. I can well understand how the British monarchy has already had a formal statement on the book.
Charles Spencer's motivation for the book is to leave a truer record for posterity about a woman who was not, according to what her ex husband hissed at his brother in law, "forgotten soon enough". The author has done Diana a great justice, showing her complexity and humanity.
September 23, 2026
Spencer took his three minute eulogy of nearly thirty years ago and expounded upon it, in the end profiting and further exploiting the sister and nephews he swore to protect.
September 23, 2026
insightful, incisive, and well-written.
September 23, 2026
Pleased to have read this after all the media coverage - I’m not sure I learnt anything new about Charles or Diana though. His writing about his family seemed quite different in tone to how he wrote about them in his memoir about boarding school - this puzzled me... As someone who remembers Diana’s shocking death and the days that followed quite well it was interesting to read about it from his point of view. And those poor young men… 😞
September 23, 2026
This is not your traditional biography but more of an extended version of Spencer’s eulogy he gave after Diana’s passing nearly thirty years ago. In my opinion this book is rubbish and it doesn’t offer any new details, just another attempt to cash in and profit from exploitation of his famous sister. DNF 27%
September 23, 2026
What an incredible tribute to a sister who touched so many people’s lives. I loved every part of this book, especially the insights into the Spencer children growing up at Park House and seeing how the family prepared to lay to rest one of their number, taken tragically way before her time.
September 22, 2026
It was ok- wouldn’t recommend. Lacked something I can’t put my finger on.
September 23, 2026
This book is completely pointless. Just another pathetic attempt to cash in.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews