Swan Song: Earl Spencer Tells His Sister's Story
A preview of Charles Spencer's forthcoming memoir Swan Song, Diana, My Sister, published this September ahead of the thirtieth anniversary of her death.
Photo: Asta Leung / Pexels
Charles Spencer has spent close to three decades answering questions about his sister that other people kept getting wrong. On 22 September, he stops answering them one at a time and publishes the full account instead. Swan Song, Diana, My Sister, out from Michael Joseph, arrives roughly a year ahead of the thirtieth anniversary of Diana, Princess of Wales's death in August 1997, and is billed by its publisher as the most intimate portrait yet written of her, by the person who knew her longest.
A Brother Who Writes History for a Living
Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, is not approaching this as a first-time author reaching for the nearest ghostwriter. He has published nine nonfiction books, four of them Sunday Times bestsellers, built a career as a historian and broadcaster, and in 2024 wrote A Very Private School, a memoir recounting the abuse he suffered at boarding school, a book that required him to revisit some of the most painful material of his own childhood in print. Swan Song draws on that same willingness to put private history on the record, this time turned toward the sister he grew up beside at the family's Althorp estate.
This article is for members only
Become a member to unlock this article and all premium content.
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief of Rich Woman Magazine, founder of Sovereign Magazine, author of many books, Dr Marina Nani is a social edification scientist coining a new industry, Social Edification. Passionately advocating to celebrate your human potential, she is well known for her trademark "Be Seen- Be Heard- Be You" running red carpet events and advanced courses like Blog Genius®, Book Genius®, Podcast Genius®, the cornerstones of her teaching. The constant practitioner of good news, she founded MAKE THE NEWS ( MTN) with the aim to diagnose and close the achievement gap globally. Founder of many publications, British Brands with global reach Marina believes that there is a genius ( Stardust) in each individual, regardless of past and present circumstances. "Not recognising your talent leaves society at loss. Sharing the good news makes a significant difference in your perception about yourself, your industry and your community."