Charles Spencer has opened up about Prince Harry's summer visit to Althorp, describing himself as an uncle who is available when his nephews need him.
Speaking to journalist and author Tina Brown in New York on September 29 at an event attended by HELLO!, Princess Diana's younger brother discussed hosting Harry and his family, his approach to their privacy and his recollection of a heated disagreement with the now King Charles before Diana's funeral.
The conversation, held to promote his memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, also touched on reports that Harry could make a film tribute to his mother ahead of the 30th anniversary of her death.
© Instagram / @charles.earl.spencerCharles Spencer on Harry's family visit
Asked about the promise he made to William and Harry during Diana's funeral eulogy, Charles explained that his role had naturally changed as his nephews grew older. "I'm just an elderly uncle who's there if needed," he said.
He then referred to Harry's stay with him over the summer, explaining that he felt able to acknowledge the visit because it was already publicly known.
"It's a matter of public record that Harry and his family came to stay with Kat and me this summer," he said. "If I'm of any use for things like that, that's fine."
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetHarry, Meghan and their children stayed at Althorp in July, maintaining their connection with the Spencer family home, where Diana is buried.
Charles made clear, however, that being available to his nephews did not mean involving himself in all their decisions. "Yeah, I never intrude," he told Tina. "There are things that he might talk about where I am totally happy to help." He added that it was up to Harry to decide what he wanted to discuss with him.
His comments about Harry and England
When the conversation turned to Harry's relationship with England and the possibility of living there again, Charles offered a straightforward response.
"But is it astounding that an Englishman wants to move back to England? I don't think so," he said. He did not provide details of any relocation arrangements, instead returning to the distinction between offering family support and giving unsolicited advice.
"I'm not sure how useful I'd have been about a property search or something," he said, before describing his nephew as someone whose personal wishes could become obscured by the public debate surrounding him. "I think what's interesting is you forget these are just regular people at heart," Charles added.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesCharles Spencer recalls disagreement with the King
Elsewhere in the discussion, Charles revisited his opposition to William and Harry walking behind their mother's coffin in 1997, when they were 15 and 12.
He said he believed Diana would not have wanted her sons to undertake the public procession and recalled expressing that view to the then Prince of Wales. "The point is that this is a man with a temper, and I was very even that day," he claimed. "I was just saying she wouldn't want it, and it's wrong."
According to Charles's account, the future King referred to having walked in Lord Mountbatten's funeral procession himself.
Charles recalled responding: "Yes, but you were 30 and he wasn't your mother." He then repeated the allegation from his memoir that the conversation ended with the then Prince of Wales saying: "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough."
Charles said he was shocked and ended the call. His account is disputed: Buckingham Palace has challenged the memoir's portrayal of events, with a spokesman saying that "fraternal grief can cloud reason" and affect memory.
During the conversation, Tina also challenged Charles's interpretation, suggesting that the then Prince of Wales could have been distraught. Charles maintained that he remembered the exchange clearly.
© Getty ImagesWhat he said about Harry's possible Diana film
The discussion also raised the prospect of Harry making a tribute to Diana ahead of the anniversary of her death in August 2027.
When Tina mentioned the reported project, Charles stopped short of confirming it or suggesting that he was involved. "He may well be," he replied, before adding: "I don't know."
Charles explained that he had received several approaches about Diana-related projects, including from biographer Andrew Morton and former Downing Street communications director Alastair Campbell.
Although he said he was not participating in those projects, he left open the possibility of contributing to something that he felt would communicate his sister's message.
He said requests connected with the anniversary had helped prompt his decision to write down his own memories. "I was getting an enormous number of requests to be part of 30th anniversary documentaries, and I thought, well maybe I should put it down once and for all," he explained.
© Getty ImagesProtecting William and Harry's privacy
Charles also discussed telling his nephews about the memoir, explaining that he had informed family members shortly before its public announcement.
Asked how William and Harry responded, he declined to share their private reactions. "In respect of their privacy, I won't sort of say what was said, but it was OK," he said.
He explained that he had reassured them about their inclusion in the book: "I haven't compromised either your privacy at all." Their place in his account, he said, was as the recipients of Diana's love and as the two boys who faced the loss of their mother.
Describing what he hoped readers would take from the memoir, Charles returned to the person behind Diana's public image. "It is a brother's loving tribute to his sister," he said.
