Royal commentator Richard Eden has criticized a Palace statement responding to claims by Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer.
Speaking on Palace Confidential, Eden called the response a “terribly misguided mistake” and said there was no need to react so quickly.
In his upcoming memoir, Spencer alleges that Charles, then Prince of Wales, told him: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”
The Palace responded by saying that it does not usually comment on books. Its statement suggests that grievance and disagreements between siblings can affect a person’s judgment and memories, even many years after a loss.
Eden said he was saddened and angry by the decision to issue the statement.
“I thought it was a terribly misguided thing to do, to respond so quickly in this way,” he said.
He pointed to Queen Elizabeth II’s approach to public criticism, saying she followed the principle of “never complain, never explain” throughout her 70-year reign.
Eden appeared on the program alongside royal journalist Rebecca English, the late Queen’s former press secretary Ailsa Anderson, and host Luke Blackall.
