Earl Spencer Says Late Queen Defended His Diana Funeral Eulogy
Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, has said Queen Elizabeth II told him he could say what he wanted at his sister's funeral, even as other members of the Royal Family were furious.
Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, spoke about the eulogy in a conversation with Tina Brown about his memoir, Swan Song, as reported by Hello! Magazine. He gave the eulogy at Diana's funeral on 6 September 1997.
In that address, he condemned the tabloid media for hunting Diana. He also pledged that Diana's "blood family", meaning her Spencer relatives, would protect Princes William and Harry.
Spencer said the Royal Family were "incandescent" about the speech. He used that word to describe the reaction behind palace doors. He drew a clear contrast with the late Queen.
He described Queen Elizabeth II as "gracious" about the eulogy. He recalled her view as being that it was his sister's funeral and he could say what he wanted. That permission mattered. It came from the monarch herself.
Spencer has also said he faced pressure before he spoke. He claimed in an interview on CNN's The Source that palace figures attended the funeral rehearsal to vet or veto his text. He did not read it.
Instead, he said he pretended he had left the eulogy at home. He read a hymn line at the rehearsal. The full speech was heard for the first time at the service.
The remarks sit alongside other accounts Spencer has given about the days after Diana's death in 1997. He told the BBC he felt there was a "giddy tone" at the time, as reported by BBC News. He also said then-Prince Charles sounded "giddily elated" in a phone call, a claim reported by Reuters. King Charles has since responded to criticism from Spencer, according to Reuters.
Spencer has also said Queen Elizabeth II offered to restore Diana's "Her Royal Highness", known as HRH, title, according to People. HRH is the formal style used by senior working royals. The offer was not taken up.
In earlier interviews, Spencer spoke about the funeral procession itself. He said he was lied to over William and Harry walking behind Diana's coffin. He called it a "bizarre and cruel thing". He described the procession as "the most horrifying half an hour of my life".
Following Diana's death, Queen Elizabeth II gave a live televised address amid a volatile public mood, as reported by BBC News.
What makes this stand out is the division Spencer describes. The monarch gave him room. Others did not.
