Swan Song: Diana, my sister (Unabridged)
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4.4 • 65 Ratings
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
The #1 New York Times bestseller
Beautiful. Beloved. Hunted. The extraordinary life and death of Diana, as told by her brother, Charles.
“A brotherly tribute to the People’s Princess, no holds barred . . . Full of love and vengeance.” —The New York Times
“Charles Spencer was there for all this history, indelibly present in one of the most iconic tableaux of the late 20th century . . . After holding back for so long, his memoir finally tells us what it was like." —Tina Brown, Fresh Hell Substack
In September 1997, Charles Spencer stood in Westminster Abbey before a watching world and shared his grief at losing his beloved sister, Diana. Now, nearly thirty years later, he tells the astonishing story of his life with Diana and the tragic week of her death.
In childhood, Charles and Diana, the youngest Spencers, were inseparable – secretly calling one another Duch and Carlos. As each other’s closest confidantes, they roamed the family estate, endured extremely challenging boarding schools, survived terrifying nannies, and helped each other through the agony of their parents’ divorce.
Yet everything changed when Diana married the Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, and overnight became a global icon. Charles saw his older sister serve the world’s marginalized and relish being mother to her treasured sons.
But, pursued by a barbaric press as her royal marriage crumbled, she was left desperately alone. Charles always tried to be there for Diana – until that black night in August, 1997.
In Swan Song, Charles Spencer provides the most intimate, loving, and honest portrait yet of his sister.
Customer Reviews
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister by Charles Spencer
I watched Diana's wedding with friends back in high school, and over the following decades watched her become someone who genuinely moved the world — her work on AIDS, landmines and other causes made such an impact. I didn't watch her funeral broadcast in 1997 though I'd long heard how incendiary her brother's eulogy was.
I hesitated before buying this audiobook, expecting something combative given the headlines about "reopened royal wounds" and the palace's sharp pushback. I'm glad I didn't let that stop me — this isn't the anti-Monarchy, anti-King Charles book so many would have you believe.
Swan Song is a deeply personal, honest, and beautifully written tribute — a brother writing about his sister, who happened to be one of the most loved public figures in the world, nearly thirty years after losing her. Spencer writes with real tenderness about their childhood, her transformation into a global icon, and the isolation she faced as her marriage crumbled — never as score-settling, but as a brother finally saying what he couldn't in 1997. The book sent shockwaves worldwide on release, but it's far more moving and measured than its reputation suggests.
Highly recommend.
Don’t Bother
Just warmed up toast — nothing new boring
Great book, shame on King Charles, and the media. Especially Piers Morgan.
I feel that Charles Spencer is telling his truth. I also feel that the UK media is absolutely disgusting covering up King Charles deception, and lies towards Diana, his two sons, the British public, and most of all, himself. He is a despicable man.
As far as Charles Spencer, he made diabolical error because Piers Morgan absolutely loves this. He is thriving off this. Piers is acting as if this is the most exciting thing in his life. That he is relevant, but he is not! Piers loves attention to himself. Charles Spencer acknowledge it was an error in the book right away. He did not deny it like Piers does every day regarding facts.This is not about Piers, this is a sibling being honest regarding another sibling. Most of all, covering for your king for media profit.
I completely believe that what Charles Spencer said about King Charles is accurate. King Charles was so jealous of the attention Princess Diana received from all over the world. That is not a leader. It is very sad, that people seem to forget this man cheated on his wife even before they were married and continued it. He broke Diana. She was only 19 years old when they got engaged. I don’t know about anybody else, but 19 is pretty young and he was 32 I believe. That poor woman was so naïve. That whole family should be ashamed of themselves.
I loved Queen Elizabeth. I’m sure she had regrets not letting King Charles be with that gross pig he is with now. I’m sorry, but I always felt that way.