--- title: "Earl Spencer claims King Charles sounded 'euphoric' after Diana's death" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/earl-spencer-claims-king-charles-sounded-euphoric-after-dianas-death" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/earl-spencer-claims-king-charles-sounded-euphoric-after-dianas-death" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/earl-spencer-claims-king-charles-sounded-euphoric-after-dianas-death.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/earl-spencer-claims-king-charles-sounded-euphoric-after-dianas-death" category: "Politics" area: "United Kingdom" published: "2026-09-17T19:45:33.818Z" source_reported: "2026-09-17T19:05:00.000Z" updated: "2026-09-17T19:45:33.818Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 65 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-17T19:07:59.039259+00:00" --- # Earl Spencer claims King Charles sounded 'euphoric' after Diana's death *New memoir excerpts detail alleged phone call and Buckingham Palace's response to claims.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Claims are attributed to Earl Spencer's book, with Buckingham Palace issuing a statement. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is largely based on digests, with limited original reporting and quotes. - Hype 65 of 100, lower is better. Headlines and digests use sensational language like 'shocking attack' and 'giddily elated'. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Earl Charles Spencer claims King Charles sounded 'euphoric' and 'like a lottery winner' in a phone call after Princess Diana's death. - Spencer also alleges King Charles suggested he could marry the woman he loved following Diana's death. - Buckingham Palace stated that grief can cloud reason and affect memory, responding to claims Charles told Spencer they would 'forget her soon enough'. - Diana had previously asked her father to allow her to break off her engagement to Charles, according to Spencer. Earl Charles Spencer has made new claims about King Charles's reaction to Princess Diana's death in 1997. In his forthcoming memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, Spencer alleges that Charles, then Prince of Wales, sounded 'euphoric' and 'like a lottery winner' during a phone call shortly after Diana died in a car crash. Spencer suggests that Charles's immediate thoughts were about how the event might free him to marry the woman he loved. The memoir also includes claims that Diana had asked her father for permission to end her engagement to Charles. Spencer writes that Diana felt deeply hurt and confused by Charles's lack of interest in her, particularly after his return from a trip to New York. According to Spencer, Diana told her father she could not go through with the marriage to a man who clearly did not love her. Spencer's book further alleges that Charles told Spencer they would 'forget her soon enough' in the days after Diana's death. ## Disagreement on King Charles's reaction Earl Spencer claims King Charles sounded 'euphoric' and 'like a lottery winner' in a phone call after Princess Diana's death. Digi 24 reports Spencer's account that Charles seemed 'euphoric' and 'like a lottery winner' when he called. In contrast, Buckingham Palace responded to claims that Charles told Spencer they would 'forget her soon enough' by stating that 'grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise'. ## What the coverage left out None of the reports printed below mention Diana asking her father to allow her to break off her engagement to Charles. This detail was included in the full report from Digi 24 but was not present in the digests from other outlets. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 50% (5) - Centre: 40% (4) - Right: 10% (1) 7 of 17 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-17T19:07:59.039259+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-17T20:00:18.094Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports led on claims that King Charles sounded 'euphoric' or 'like a lottery winner' after Princess Diana's death. Cosmopolitan, The Independent, and The Independent (US) highlighted Spencer's accusation that Charles sounded 'giddily elated' on the phone. La Opinion focused on the monarch's response to the revelations, while Town & Country also featured the 'lottery winner' comparison. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports focused on Earl Spencer's claims about King Charles's demeanour after Princess Diana's death and Buckingham Palace's official response. Sky News UK and WTVB highlighted Spencer's description of Charles sounding 'giddily elated' or 'like a lottery winner'. Digi 24 and ANSA also reported these claims, alongside the palace's statement that grief can affect memory and judgment. ### Right No separate framing summary. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 3 - high: 7 - unknown: 7 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Sky News UK](https://news.sky.com/story/charles-was-giddily-elated-in-phone-call-after-dianas-death-earl-spencer-claims-in-book-13588671) — Charles was 'giddily elated' in phone call after Diana's death, Earl Spencer claims in book - [reader.gr](https://reader.gr/kosmos/san-na-eihe-kerdisei-laheio-i-ataka-seismos-toy-adelfoy-tis-ntaianas-gia-ton-karolo-meta-ton-thanato/661927) — "It's Like He Won the Lottery": Diana's Brother's Shocking Attack on Charles After Her Death - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/09/17/king-charles-sounded-like-lottery-winner-after-dianas-death-her-brother-writes) — King Charles sounded like ‘lottery winner’ after Diana’s death, her brother writes - [Digi 24](https://digi24.ro/stiri/externe/mapamond/regele-charles-era-euforic-dupa-moartea-dianei-sustine-fratele-ei-intr-o-carte-de-memorii-reactia-palatului-buckingham-3952985) — King Charles Was "Euphoric" After Diane's Death, Supporting Her Brother in a Book of Memories. Buckingham Palace's Reaction - [Town & Country](https://townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a73778013/charles-spencer-swan-song-king-charles-princess-diana-death-excerpt-2026) — Princess Diana’s Brother Claims King Charles Sounded ‘Like a Lottery Winner’ After Princess Diana’s Death in New Book - [The Telegraph](https://telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2026/09/17/king-told-staff-never-to-criticise-diana-says-former-aide) — King ‘sounded elated’ when Diana died, Earl Spencer claims - [Business Daily](https://businessdaily.gr/diethni/232721_o-adelfos-tis-ntaianas-ishyrizetai-oti-o-karolos-harike-gia-ton-thanato-tis) — Prince Charles Was 'Delighted' by Diana's Death, Says Her Brother - [ulusal.com.tr](https://ulusal.com.tr/dunya/diananin-kardesinden-kral-charles-hakkinda-carpici-iddia-olum-haberinin-ardindan-asiri-derecede-neseliydi-15102506) — Diana's Brother Makes a Shocking Claim About King Charles: "He Was Excessively Cheerful After the News of Her death." - [NewsBomb](https://newsbomb.gr/kosmos/story/1764099/vretania-nees-apokalypseis-gia-to-pos-antedrase-o-vasilias-karolos-otan-emathe-gia-tin-daiana) — Britain: New Revelations About How King Charles Reacted when He Found Out About Diana - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/earl-spencer-book-king-charles-diana-b3052026.html) — Earl Spencer’s book claims Charles acted like a ‘lottery winner’ after Diana’s death - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/life-style/royal-family/earl-spencer-book-king-charles-diana-b3052026.html) — Earl Spencer’s book claims Charles acted like a ‘lottery winner’ after Diana’s death - [ANSA](https://ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2026/09/17/nuove-accuse-dal-fratello-di-diana-carlo-euforico-alla-notizia-della_cf155d9c-f778-476c-9a41-7597f0ea7d1f.html) — New Accusations From Diana's Brother, 'Carlo Euphoric to the News of His Death' - [Great Yorkshire Radio](https://greatyorkshireradio.co.uk/uk/charles-was-giddily-elated-in-phone-call-after-dianas-death-earl-spencer-claims-in-book) — Charles Was 'giddily Elated' In Phone Call After Diana's Death, Earl Spencer Claims In Book - [Diario La Verdad](https://laverdad.com/hermano-de-diana-revela-lo-que-carlos-le-dijo-tras-su-muerte-no-te-preocupes-pronto-la-olvidaremos) — Diana’s Brother Reveals What Carlos Told Her After Her Death: “Don’t Worry, We’ll Soon Forget Her” - [La Opinion](https://laopinion.com/2026/09/17/memorias-del-hermano-de-lady-di-sacuden-a-la-realeza-asi-respondio-el-rey-carlos-iii) — Memories of Lady Di's Brother Shake Royalty: This Is How King Charles III Responded - [StarMag.com](https://starmag.com/royautes/charles-iii-reagit-aux-revelations-du-frere-de-diana-le-palais-repond-a-une-accusation-troublante-1055552.html) — Charles III Reacts to Diana's Brother's Revelations: the Palace Responds to a Disturbing Accusation - [Cosmopolitan](https://cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a73771816/king-charles-response-princess-diana-brother) — King Charles Issues Shocking Response to Earl Spencer After He Exposes Details from Their Phone Call About Princess Diana’s Death ## Questions **What does Earl Spencer claim about King Charles's reaction to Princess Diana's death?** Earl Charles Spencer claims that King Charles sounded 'euphoric' and 'like a lottery winner' in a phone call shortly after Princess Diana's death in 1997. He also suggests that Charles's thoughts turned to marrying the woman he loved. **How did Buckingham Palace respond to these claims?** Buckingham Palace issued a statement acknowledging that grief can cloud reason, affect judgment, and influence memories. This response was made in reaction to specific claims, including that Charles told Earl Spencer they would 'forget her soon enough'. **Did Princess Diana want to break off her engagement to Charles?** According to Earl Spencer's memoir, Princess Diana asked her father for permission to end her engagement to Charles. Spencer writes that Diana felt Charles did not love her and she was deeply hurt and confused. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/earl-spencer-claims-king-charles-sounded-euphoric-after-dianas-death. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Earl Spencer claims King Charles sounded 'euphoric' after Diana's death", https://mediabias.news/politics/earl-spencer-claims-king-charles-sounded-euphoric-after-dianas-death