Earl Spencer clarifies Prince Harry’s involvement in bombshell Princess Diana book

Earl Spencer has clarified exactly how much Prince Harry knew about his explosive new memoir about his late sister, Princess Diana.

Charles Spencer, Diana’s younger brother and the 9th Earl Spencer, released Swan Song: Diana, My Sister last week (22 September).

The highly anticipated memoir looks back at Diana’s childhood, her marriage to King Charles III, her rise to global fame and the intense media scrutiny surrounding her life.

It also covers the final chapter of her life, including her death in Paris in 1997 and the aftermath of her funeral.

The book has attracted plenty of attention because of Spencer’s first-hand memories of Diana and its claims about how members of the Royal Family reacted following her death.

Earl Spencer has clarified exactly how much Prince Harry knew about his explosive new memoir about his late sister, Princess Diana (Max Mumby/Indigo / Contributor / Getty Images)

Now, Spencer has made clear that Harry had no involvement in the book itself.

Speaking to Gayle King on CBS Mornings earlier this week on Monday (28 September), Spencer explained why he deliberately kept the project within a very small circle: "Nobody knew about it except my wife, obviously, and the publishers. I didn’t tell any of the family until just before it was released publicly."

That included Harry and his older brother, Prince William.

For Spencer, keeping his nephews’ involvement separate from the book appears to have been particularly important.

He said he did not want anyone to think other members of the family were 'in any way involved' in the memoir, 'particularly' Harry.

Spencer has made clear that Harry had no involvement in the book itself (Pool / Pool / Getty Images)

Spencer previously said the brothers were both told about the memoir shortly before publication, although he stressed that neither had been involved in putting it together, per PEOPLE.

He said they were 'of course in the book, but really as examples of two little boys who had the most exceptional mother' without 'compromising their privacy at all'.

Neither William nor Harry has publicly commented on the memoir, despite both being central figures in Spencer’s memories of Diana and her funeral.

One of the most controversial passages in the book concerns an alleged conversation between Spencer and the then-Prince Charles while arrangements were being made for Diana’s funeral.

Spencer claimed Charles objected to his concerns about William and Harry walking behind their mother’s coffin and allegedly told him: "We’ll forget her soon enough."

Buckingham Palace strongly pushed back against the claim before the book’s release.

"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," the Palace said.

Spencer has stood by his recollection, telling the BBC: "I’m telling the truth."