Earl Charles Spencer, the brother of Princess Diana, has said Queen Elizabeth II wanted to return Diana's title to her, according to BILD. The German outlet reported the claim on Friday, September 18, 2026, without stating when or where Spencer made the remarks.
The same reporting is tied to other accounts attributed to Spencer about the period around Diana's death. According to stern.de, Spencer learned by telephone that his sister had died, and he has described a call with Charles in which he said the then-prince appeared "dizzy with elation." morgenpost.de also carried Spencer's description of a disturbing phone conversation with Charles after Diana's death.
The claims have drawn a sharp response from Buckingham Palace. zdfheute.de reported that the palace firmly rejected serious accusations against King Charles connected to Diana. The outlets did not publish the full text of Spencer's remarks in the material available, and the specific wording of the title claim has not been independently confirmed here.
The reports land against a broader backdrop of scrutiny of the monarchy's relationship with the public. RND.de framed the episode as part of a moment when the royal family lost contact with the British people, a reference to the widespread criticism of the palace's initial response to Diana's death in 1997.
Spencer has spoken publicly about his sister before, but the title claim and the phone-call accounts are new and remain disputed by the palace. Watch for the palace's full statement and for any response from Spencer or his representatives clarifying when and how he made these remarks.