Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer's new book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is hours from being released but already has courted a response from His Majesty, the King.
Among the bombshell claims published in excerpts ahead of its publication on Tuesday were that Diana's former husband sounded "giddily elated" at news of her death, and claimed he said: "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough!" ahead of Diana's funeral.
These allegations were met with what is being described by Ingrid Seward, author of Catherine & Diana: The inside story, as an unprecedented response from King.
A spokesperson for the Monarch said: "While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, 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."
Discussing the King's surprise public reaction, Ingrid said: "I think that Charles felt very strongly about this, because I've never heard a statement like this before. And he must have considered the implications of it and realised, you know, this is going to cause more agony, so he felt so strongly. I think that it was put out pret...