Who should people believe? Princess Diana’s ex husband or her brother? 

The British monarchy is back in global headlines again for all the wrong reasons, following the publication of Earl Spencer’s book about his later sister. 

The former brother-in-law of King Charles III reveals in his book that the then Prince of Wales allegedly told him after Diana’s death that, “Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough."

Princess Diana visits Birmingham in 1990. Picture by: Alamy.com. 

He also claimed that the Prince subjected him to a "stream of anger" after he raised concerns about Princes William and Harry walking behind Diana’s coffin. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said it has been a “very difficult week” for Buckingham Palace and that Earl Spencer’s claims have “certainly riled” the royal court. 

“Who knows who's telling the truth?” she mused. 

“In most of these instances, there were two people in the room or two people on the end of the phone lines and we don't know what was said.”

Earl Spencer accompanied by his older sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes arrive at Kensington Palace on what would have been their sister, Princess Diana's 60th Birthday. Picture by: Chris Aubrey/Alamy Live News. 

Ms Bond continued that she knows both men and described Earl Spencer as a “very charming, softly spoken man”. 

“In all his interviews to do with the book, he has this gentleness of tone and a compelling argument,” she said. 

“He says that the spine of the book is to give a context to his very powerful eulogy at Diana's funeral.

“I find it very persuasive that he says that the reason he ended that tribute by saying, ‘Diana's beauty will never be extinguished from our minds’ - very pointedly. 

“He says that was a direct rebuttal to the words he believes he heard his ex-brother-in-law say, ‘we will soon forget her’.”

Buckingham Palace responded to Earl Spencer’s claims with a frosty statement that, “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.”

“We do not know who to believe,” Ms Bond said. 

“What we do know is, yes, it has been very damaging and there's no doubt that the King's reputation has been dented at least. 

“But he will carry on because he always does.”

Main image: Earl Spencer and King Charles. Pictures by: Alamy.com.