Prince William stays silent as uncle's Diana memoir goes on sale

Prince William said nothing when reporters asked him about his uncle's new memoir about Princess Diana on the day the book went on sale.

The questions came during an engagement in west London on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Reporters asked William, Prince of Wales, "how do you feel about your uncle's book?" and "have you read it?" He gave no response, according to Town & Country.

The book is Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, by Charles Spencer, Diana's younger brother. Spencer holds the hereditary British title of 9th Earl Spencer and delivered the eulogy at his elder sister's funeral. The memoir recounts Diana's life story and the week of her death. It was released on Sept. 22, 2026.

Spencer has said he told his sisters, Sarah and Jane, and his nephews, Prince William and Prince Harry, about the book at exactly the same time. He said Prince Harry is "completely fine" about it. Harry asked if there was anything embarrassing about him in the pages, and Spencer reassured him there is not.

Spencer has also said both princes appear in the book only as two little boys with an exceptional mother, without compromising their privacy.

The release has drawn attention because of passages about now-King Charles III, who was then Prince of Wales. Spencer claims Charles said "we'll forget her soon enough" during an argument concerning William, and describes being subjected to a "stream of anger," according to the BBC. Spencer has defended those claims in interviews.

Buckingham Palace, the king's official residence and office, released a statement in response to the claims about King Charles, Town & Country reported. The royal family carried out engagements as normal on release day, according to The Independent.

Prince Harry also sidestepped a question. He seemingly ignored a question about the memoir while leaving an event in Britain for the Invictus Games, the international sports competition for wounded service members that he founded, Yahoo reported last week.

For American readers, the silence fits a pattern. British royals rarely comment directly on books about the family. They keep to the schedule listed in the Court Circular, the palace's daily record of official engagements, and leave any response to a short palace statement.