EXCLUSIVE: Laura Kuenssberg staggered as Earl Spencer makes King Charles ‘threat’ on BBC
Earl Spencer has sparked fresh controversy after revealing that he “knows lots of things” about King Charles that he deliberately chose not to include in his new book about Princess Diana.
Diana’s brother made the remark during a BBC interview with Laura Kuenssberg filmed at his Althorp House estate in Northamptonshire.
The conversation focused on claims Spencer makes about the Royal Family in his forthcoming memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
Among the most controversial is his allegation that Charles, then Prince of Wales, told him after Diana’s death in 1997 that she would “soon be forgotten”.
During the interview, Spencer insisted there were other things he knew about the King but had decided they were not relevant to his book.
“This is not a threat, it’s a fact,” he said.
“I know lots of things about the King, which I chose not to include in the book because they were not relevant.”
Laura Kuenssberg Challenges Spencer
Spencer explained that he viewed his role as presenting the context behind comments he had previously made about Diana and the Royal Family.
“I’m a historian, I’ve worked for decent news organisations like yourselves [the BBC], and it’s just my duty to lay it out,” he said.
He added: “There is a reason why those words were in my eulogy, and I have to give that reason.”
Kuenssberg immediately questioned whether his comments could be interpreted differently.
“Sounds a bit like a threat, if you’re saying you know other things about the King that could be damaging to him?” she asked.
Spencer firmly rejected that interpretation.
“No, not at all a threat,” he replied.
“It’s just the reality. I want to give the context of what I said, and what I didn’t say. I’m not threatening.”
‘I Have Plenty of Other Things I Could Have Said’
Spencer continued by insisting that his decision not to include other material demonstrated that he was not trying to publish sensational allegations simply for their own sake.
“I’ve got no interest – I’m not a salacious writer on any level,” he said.
“The point being that if I was a salacious writer and wanted to write that sort of thing, I have plenty of other things I could have said and really have no interest in doing so.”
His comments nevertheless prompted questions because they appeared to acknowledge the existence of further private information concerning the King.
Spencer did not reveal what that information was, and the source provides no details about its nature or whether it would actually be damaging.
His remarks therefore amount only to his claim that he possesses additional information which he decided not to publish.
‘Some Family Secrets Are Better Left Unsaid’
Towards the end of the interview, Kuenssberg raised the issue of whether some private family matters should remain private.
“Some people might wonder, as maybe in every family, some family secrets are better left unsaid?” she asked.
Spencer agreed.
“They certainly are and they have been left unsaid,” he replied.
Kuenssberg then pressed him on whether he intended to reveal any more.
“Will you say more?” she asked.
Spencer’s answer was brief and definitive.
“Nope. That’s it, that’s me done.”
Fresh Controversy Around Diana Memoir
The interview comes amid growing attention around Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which has already generated controversy before publication.
Spencer’s recollections of Diana, Charles and the period around his sister’s death have prompted significant public debate.
His claim that Charles said Diana would “soon be forgotten” has been among the allegations drawing the greatest attention.
The latest BBC interview has now created an additional row, not because Spencer revealed another specific allegation, but because of his admission that he knows further information about the King that he chose to leave out.
Kuenssberg openly questioned whether that sounded like a warning, but Spencer repeatedly insisted it was nothing of the sort.
For now, he says those additional family matters will remain private.
And when asked directly whether more revelations were coming, Spencer made his position clear: he says he is finished.
