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Earl Spencer doubles down on claims about ‘monstrous’ call with Charles after Diana’s death
By Extra Extra Editorial
Cross-spectrum analysis, synthesized with AI from 9 sources · Updated
Earl Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, has published a book containing allegations about a phone call with King Charles immediately following Diana's death in 1997. Spencer claims Charles spoke in an unusually animated manner during the conversation, describing his tone as 'giddy' and 'elated,' and characterizes the overall interaction as 'monstrous.' The King's representatives have responded by stating Charles feels deeply wounded and angry over these allegations, while Spencer has defended his account in recent media appearances as truthful.
Left-leaning outlets present Spencer's allegations as a serious challenge to the King's character and emotional fitness, emphasizing the gravity of his claims and the palace's defensive reaction. These sources frame the story as one of institutional accountability, treating Spencer's account as a credible insider perspective that warrants serious examination.
Center and independent sources adopt a more neutral, documentary approach by allowing Spencer to articulate his claims directly while noting the palace's response without taking sides. These outlets focus on Spencer's defense of his truthfulness and the factual details of the alleged conversation rather than editorializing about its implications.
Right-leaning sources amplify Spencer's specific characterizations of Charles's demeanor, using vivid language like 'giddy' and 'elated' to underscore the alleged inappropriateness of his behavior. These outlets also broaden the narrative to include other criticisms Spencer raises about the royal family's handling of grief and care for younger family members.
Key Differences
- Left outlets emphasize the palace's emotional wound and anger as evidence of the allegations' seriousness, while center sources present both claims and response more symmetrically.
- Right-leaning coverage expands the story beyond the phone call itself to include Spencer's broader critiques of royal family dysfunction, whereas center outlets remain tighter to the core dispute.
- Left sources treat Spencer's account as a credibility test for the monarchy, while right outlets use his claims to illustrate systemic problems within the institution.
How this story is being covered
Extra Extra has grouped 9 reports on this story from 8 news outlets across the political spectrum. By political lean, that breaks down as 2 left-leaning, 4 center, and 3 right-leaning sources.
With a coverage-diversity score of 97 out of 100, this is one of the more evenly reported stories in our index right now — left, center, and right outlets are all giving it attention.
On reliability, 5 of the 8 rated outlets carry a high or mostly-factual reliability rating (A or B) and 3 outlets fall into our mixed or lower-reliability tier (C or D). Ratings are drawn from independent assessments and are meant to help you weigh each report, not to tell you which to trust.
The reports clustered here landed within about 3 hours of each other, suggesting a fast-moving, breaking story.
Below, the same story is laid out side by side as left, center, and right outlets reported it. Read across the columns and watch what changes: the headline emphasis, which facts lead, the adjectives, and what each side leaves out. The story itself rarely changes — the framing almost always does.
Outlets covering this story: The Guardian, Vanity Fair, BBC News, ABC News (Australia), South China Morning Post, The Sun (UK), GB News, The Gateway Pundit.
Left(2)
The GuardianASep 18, 5:40 PM
Earl Spencer doubles down on claims about ‘monstrous’ call with Charles after Diana’s death
Buckingham Palace has refuted claim by Charles Spencer, Diana’s brother, that then prince told him ‘we’ll forget her soon enough’ Earl Spencer has doubled down on his bombshell claim that King Charles
Vanity FairBSep 18, 3:13 PM
King Charles Is “Deeply Wounded and Very Angry” Over Allegations Made in Charles Spencer’s New Book About Princess Diana
A source tells Vanity Fair that King Charles is “seething” after Charles Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother, wrote in his new memoir that following Diana’s death, Charles said she would “soon be forgot
Center(4)
BBC NewsASep 18, 3:59 PM
'I'm telling the truth': Earl Spencer defends Diana book claims about Charles in BBC interview
Princess Diana's brother tells the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg that "we'll forget her soon enough" were "exactly" the words used by the then-Prince of Wales.
BBC NewsASep 18, 3:59 PM
Watch: Diana's brother says Charles 'went ballistic' in phone call after her death
Earl Spencer spoke exclusively with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg about claims he has made in a new book.
ABC News (Australia)ASep 18, 5:47 PM
Diana's brother says he's 'telling truth' about king's 'monstrous' phone call
Princess Diana's brother has doubled down on his swathe of explosive claims about Britain's royal family, insisting he is "telling the truth", and suggesting the king is "embarrassed".
South China Morning PostBSep 18, 4:47 PM
Princess Diana’s ‘revenge dress’ goes on show amid clash between brother and Charles
Princess Diana’s “revenge dress” went on display in London on Friday, days after new claims about King Charles’s reaction to her death, as the shadow cast over the royal family by the so-called “peopl
Right(3)
The Sun (UK)CSep 18, 6:27 PM
Charles clashed with Prince Philip at Diana’s funeral, Earl Spencer claims as he slams lack of care for grieving Harry
KING Charles clashed with Prince Philip at Diana's funeral, Earl Spencer's new book claims. The shock new claim about what went on behind the scenes at the farewell to William and Harry's mother comes
GB NewsCSep 18, 6:26 PM
Earl Spencer takes explosive swipe at late Queen over 'tetchy' reaction to Diana car crash
Diana's brother has made an explosive allegation the late Queen responded dismissively upon learning of the Princess's fatal 1997 car accident in Paris. Earl Spencer, 62, writes in his bombshell memoi
The Gateway PunditDSep 18, 3:20 PM
‘LIKE A LOTTERY WINNER’: Princess Diana’s Brother Earl Spencer Continues With Book Allegations: King Charles Sounded ‘Giddy, Elated’ After Her Tragic Car Crash Death
King Charles is facing a veritable PR nightmare with the shocking allegations from Earl Charles Spencer’s upcoming book. The post ‘LIKE A LOTTERY WINNER’: Princess Diana’s Brother Earl Spencer Continu
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