It’s the latest claim made by Princess Diana’s brother in a new book that has already prompted Buckingham Palace to respond.
Queen Elizabeth II offered to reinstate Princess Diana’s ‘Her Royal Highness’ title on the day of her funeral, according to Earl Spencer.
The Earl, Diana’s younger brother, says he decided to decline the late Queen’s ‘very kind’ gesture as he felt it was a ‘consolation prize’, reports the Daily Mail. Diana controversially lost the HRH title in 1996, when she and King Charles divorced after 15 years of marriage. She was later styled ‘Diana, Princess of Wales’.
In an explosive new book on Diana’s life, Earl Spencer recalled the moment the Queen’s private secretary, Robert Fellowes, took him to one side as they travelled via Royal train to the Spencer’s ancestral estate, Althrop in Northamptonshire.
He wrote: “When we had gone some miles, Robert beckoned me to follow him into a quiet corner of the carriage. I have just received a call from Her Majesty …and she would like to offer Diana her HRH title back.”
Diana and Charles’ wedding in 1981 brought the world to a standstill (Image: Getty)
Earl Spencer replied: “That’s very kind of the Queen, of course. But what’s the point, Robert? Now? I mean – Diana’s dead.”
It’s the latest claim from the 62-year-old Earl about Diana’s relationship with the Royal family. Earlier this week, Buckingham Palace took the unusual step to issue a statement in response to claims made about the King.
Earl Spencer claimed Charles said ‘rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough’ after Diana’s sudden death in a Paris car crash in August 1997.
Princess Diana was styled ‘Diana, Princess of Wales’ after she lost the HRH title in 1996 (Image: Getty)
The Palace’s statement released on Wednesday (September 16) said in response: “While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.”
Earl Spencer has also claimed Charles was like a ‘lottery winner’ when he learned of his ex-wife’s passing, and said both Diana and Charles had their doubts about tying the knot ahead of their lavish July 1981 ceremony.