Almost every part of Princess Diana’s short life was reported on in some way, both before and after her tragic death in 1997. Now her brother, Charles Spencer—an author, journalist, and broadcaster, best known for his deeply emotional speech at Diana’s funeral—has written a book offering his unique perspective on growing up with a sister who became one of the most famous women in the world. Swan Song: Diana, My Sister has reportedly already angered Buckingham Palace, but the memoir contains much more than criticism of King Charles (though there is plenty of that too). Below are five key points from Spencer’s book, from his family’s original wishes for Diana’s funeral to a major regret he expresses about how he handled her eating disorder while she was alive.

King Charles allegedly behaved poorly after her death

One of the most shocking stories Spencer tells involves how his former brother-in-law spoke to him right after Diana’s death. Spencer describes the then-Prince as sounding “giddily elated—like a lottery winner” and, on another occasion, allegedly promising angrily: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!” That wasn’t the only time the now-King upset Spencer with his coldness after a loved one’s death. Spencer claims that when he was alone with Charles just after his and Diana’s father’s funeral, Charles told him: “You’re just so lucky—you know, inheriting when you’re so young!”

Diana’s family wanted a small, private funeral

“Some of us were angry, and protective, feeling we had lent Diana to the world for a decade and a half, and that that sacrifice had ended in the darkest of tragedies. Now, it seemed to us, was the time for us to reclaim her broken body, for quiet and dignified committal and safekeeping,” Charles writes, adding: “This, we felt, should be as we saw fit, and certainly in private.” Charles says he expected to give the eulogy in front of at most 400 people, but Diana’s funeral ultimately drew 2,000 invited guests (including Hillary Clinton, Steven Spielberg, Mariah Carey, Tom Cruise, and Nicole Kidman) and was watched by 2 billion people worldwide.

Diana allegedly told her father she had doubts about marrying “a man who clearly did not love her”

In Swan Song, Charles recounts a story about Diana being ignored by her then-fiancé, King Charles, at a party at Windsor Castle for his brother Andrew’s 21st birthday. According to Charles, Diana told her father soon afterward that she had doubts about the upcoming marriage. Charles notes: “My father was appalled and said it was impossible to pull out of such an enormous commitment at that point.”

Charles believed Diana had undiagnosed ADHD

“Diana had some of the key symptoms associated with ADHD,” Charles writes. He recalls that many of Diana’s teachers said she struggled to concentrate at school, and notes that she blossomed and began to show her characteristic charm in her late teens when, “free from the regular chiding of teachers for the academic shortcomings that were never her fault, she suddenly—for the first time—found herself.” Charles also discusses his own experience with neurodivergence in the memoir, saying he believes he and Diana both had Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), an “intense emotional pain in the face of others’ rejection or criticism” often linked to ADHD.

Charles wished he had handled things differently during Diana’s struggles with anorexia and bulimiaCharles spoke directly about Diana’s history of disordered eating in the speech he read at her funeral and did his best to support her through her struggles during her life. But he writes: “I still wish I had done more. Telling Diana how beautiful she looked on her wedding day, when in reality she had lost an unhealthy amount of weight by starving herself, was far from helpful. I had no idea that her food issues partly came from feeling unloved by a man she adored.” Diana was reportedly the one who first suggested to Charles that his first wife, Victoria, might have an eating disorder shortly after their wedding. Charles notes: “I had no idea that was the case, but Diana knew the signs well.”

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the key takeaways from Charles Spencers book A Very Private School and his reflections on life as Princess Dianas brother

1 What is Charles Spencers new book about
It is a memoir about his childhood and his time at Maidwell Hall a British boarding school He shares his personal experiences of abuse and neglect there and reflects on how it shaped him and his relationship with his sister Princess Diana

2 Who is Charles Spencer
He is the 9th Earl Spencer a British nobleman author and historian He is the younger brother of Diana Princess of Wales and the uncle of Princes William and Harry

3 What are the main takeaways from the book
The key takeaways are
The trauma of boarding school He describes the severe physical and emotional abuse he suffered at age 8
The impact on his life He explains how this trauma led to a lifelong struggle with anxiety and a stutter
A different side of Diana He shares memories of his sister as a protective figure who comforted him
The culture of silence He highlights how abuse was ignored and covered up by the school system
Breaking the cycle He talks about the importance of speaking out to protect children today

4 What kind of abuse did Charles Spencer experience
He describes being beaten sexually abused by a female staff member and subjected to cruel and humiliating punishments He also talks about the emotional neglect of being sent away from home at such a young age

5 How did his experiences affect his relationship with Princess Diana
He says Diana was a source of comfort and support for him As children they bonded over their shared difficult experiences at home and at school He believes their close relationship was partly due to the trauma they both endured

6 Why did he decide to write this book now
He says he wanted to finally tell his own story after a lifetime of keeping it secret He also hopes that by speaking out he can help other survivors of abuse and push for better protection for children in schools

7 What does the title A Very Private School mean
The title refers to Maidwell Hall the elite boarding school he attended It is a play on words suggesting that while the school was private it was also a