Charles 'sounded giddily elated' after Diana died, Earl Spencer claims

Image source, PA Media Image caption, Buckingham Palace has strongly pushed back against claims in a book by the late princess's brother

Earl Spencer, brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, has claimed King Charles "sounded giddily elated" when he called him after her death in 1997.

In a controversial book about Diana, he alleged the then-Prince Charles sounded like a "lottery winner" after the news.

Buckingham Palace strongly pushed back on Wednesday against the credibility of the book, after an initial extract claimed Charles had said of Diana: "We'll forget her soon enough."

A spokesperson 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."