Charles Spencer Pays Tribute to Diana on 29th Death Anniversary

Key Points

• The late Princess Diana’s relatives, Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, commemorated her 29th death anniversary with a tribute on Instagram on 31 August 2026.
• Diana was killed, together with her husband Dodi Fayed, 42, and driver Henri Paul, 41, in a car accident on 31 August 1997 in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris.
• Charles posted a picture of a flag flying at half-mast over the family home, Althorp House in West Northamptonshire, writing: “31 August. My least favourite day.
• In an interview with Gyles Brandreth’s Rosebud podcast last October, Charles admitted he struggles to explain to strangers where he was when Diana passed away, to strangers.
• He shared one instance of meeting a South Dakota woman who claimed she had been raised with Diana in the United States.
• Podcast presenter Gyles Brandreth revealed that a South London neighbour of his has kept a shrine to Diana in his house since 1997.
• Charles shared his own opinion of why Diana continues to be so popular, saying her relatability and her personal struggles, such as her struggle with bulimia, have contributed to her enduring popularity.
• He cited remarks from close friend Julian Fellowes that Diana was a “charismatic” woman with an “unhappiness underneath”.
• Diana was married to the late Prince Charles from 1981 until 1996, and the couple would go on to have two sons, the late Prince of Wales William, 44, and Duke of Sussex Prince Harry, 41.
• Charles Spencer is getting ready to release his new book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, about his sister.

England (Britain Today News) August 31, 2026 — Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, has once again paid public tribute to his sister, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, on the 29th anniversary of her death. Diana, who was 36 at the time, died after being fatally injured in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris, France, on 31 August 1997. She was travelling alongside her 42-year-old partner, film producer Dodi Fayed, and their 41-year-old driver, Henri Paul, both of whom also lost their lives in the collision.

Taking to Instagram on the anniversary, the 62-year-old shared a photograph of a flag flying at half-mast over Althorp House, the Spencer family’s ancestral home in West Northamptonshire, where Diana is buried. Charles captioned the image simply:

“31 August. My least favourite day.”

Why Does Charles Spencer Call 31 August His “Least Favourite Day”?

The Instagram caption was brief, but it reflects a sentiment Charles Spencer has expressed publicly before. The date marks not only the anniversary of his sister’s death but also, for the Earl, a day he actively tries to keep occupied to avoid dwelling on the loss.

Speaking on an episode of broadcaster Gyles Brandreth’s Rosebud podcast last October, Charles explained his approach to the anniversary. He said:

“I try and be really busy on the 31st of August because it’s just terribly sad, really.”

What Does Charles Spencer Find Difficult About Public Encounters?

Charles went on to describe an aspect of public life he finds particularly challenging: strangers approaching him to recount their personal memories of the day Diana died.

He told the podcast:

“I tell you what I do find quite difficult, and this probably sounds ungracious, but occasionally, total strangers come up and feel they must tell me where they were when they heard that she died, sort of thing.”

He added a note of understanding for those who do so, saying:

“And I’m sure that’s helpful to them. It’s not entirely helpful to everyone else.”

Who Was the Woman From South Dakota That Charles Spencer Met?

Among the anecdotes Charles shared on the Rosebud podcast was an encounter with a woman from South Dakota, USA, who claimed a personal connection to Diana that the Earl found both surprising and amusing.

He recalled:

“And I had, actually, this year, I had — I mean, it’s comic really — I had a lady from South Dakota, who clutched me to her ample bosom, and said that I may have thought I grew up with Diana, but actually she did in South Dakota.”

Reflecting on the exchange, Charles said:

“So you just have to smile. It doesn’t matter.”

Diana is buried on a small, tree-covered island in the centre of the oval lake on the Althorp Estate, the Spencer family’s Northamptonshire home, where members of the public and admirers continue to pay their respects on significant anniversaries.

What Did Gyles Brandreth Reveal About His Neighbour’s Shrine to Diana?

During the same Rosebud podcast episode, host Gyles Brandreth, 78, a former Conservative Party Member of Parliament, shared his own story illustrating the enduring devotion many members of the public still hold for Diana nearly three decades on.

Brandreth revealed:

“It’s a curious thing. I have a neighbour in my part of South London who’s got a shrine to her in his home, which he has kept since 1997 with candles and flowers and photographs of her.”

He noted the neighbour’s professional background, adding:

“This is a successful businessman.”

Charles responded to the revelation with evident surprise, remarking:

“It’s extraordinary, isn’t it?”

Why Does Charles Spencer Believe Diana Remains So Widely Loved?

Charles Spencer used the podcast appearance to offer his own perspective on why Diana continues to command such deep public affection nearly thirty years after her death. He suggested her popularity stems from how personally relatable she was to people around the world, particularly women of her own generation.

He explained:

“I think it’s different things to different people. And I think particularly to women of a similar age, they really invested their lives in hers.”

Charles elaborated on the parallels people drew between their own struggles and Diana’s, referencing her documented battle with bulimia. He said:

“So they ran, maybe they had an unhappy marriage. Maybe they battled an eating disorder. There was plenty of Diana to look into and take your bit out of, almost like a horoscope, you know. You can make it make sense for you.”

What Did Julian Fellowes Say About Princess Diana’s Appeal?

Charles also drew on the insight of his close friend, screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, to help explain Diana’s lasting cultural resonance.

Quoting Fellowes, Charles said:

“I think part of her appeal, of course, you know, she married into the royal family, she was beautiful and, you know, very charismatic.”

He continued, relaying Fellowes’ further observation:

“But he also said, like the great film stars, there was something unhappy in there that really triggered an emotional response.”

What Is Known About Princess Diana’s Marriage and Family?

Diana, Princess of Wales, was married to the then-Prince Charles, now King Charles III, from 1981 until their divorce in 1996. The couple had two sons together: William, Prince of Wales, now 44, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, now 41.

Following her divorce, Diana remained an influential public figure, known for her humanitarian work, before she died in Paris in August 1997 at the age of 36.

Who Is Charles Spencer and What Is His Relationship to Diana?

Charles Spencer, formerly the 9th Earl Spencer, is the youngest of five children born to John Spencer, the 8th Earl Spencer, and Frances Shand Kydd. He grew up alongside three older sisters: Lady Sarah McCorquodale, now 71, the eldest of the siblings; Lady Jane Fellowes, now 69; and Diana, who was born in 1961.

The family also included an older brother, John, who died just hours after his birth in 1960, a loss that preceded the births of his younger siblings.

Is Charles Spencer Publishing a New Book About Diana?

Alongside his public tributes, Charles Spencer is preparing to release a new book titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, in which he will tell the story of his sister’s life. The forthcoming publication is expected to offer further personal reflections from the Earl on Diana’s upbringing, her public role, and her legacy nearly three decades after her death.
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What Does This Anniversary Mean for the Spencer Family and the Public?

As the 29th anniversary of Diana’s death passed on 31 August 2026, tributes such as Charles Spencer’s Instagram post and the half-mast flag over Althorp House serve as a reminder of the enduring public and private grief surrounding her loss. The continued interest from members of the public, including those who approach Charles directly or, as Gyles Brandreth described, maintain private shrines in her memory, underscores the extent to which Diana’s legacy remains deeply embedded in public consciousness.

For the Spencer family, and for Charles in particular, the day continues to carry significant emotional weight, balanced by an evident willingness to reflect publicly on both the sorrow of the loss and the extraordinary devotion Diana continues to inspire in people across the world.