United Kingdom, Sept. 17 -- King Charles has hit out at Earl Spencer over claims made in his former brother-in-law's new book about the late Princess Diana.

Buckingham Palace suggested the 62-year-old earl's grief over his beloved sister - who died in a Paris car crash in August 1997 - had "clouded reason" and "affected judgement" after he claimed in Swan Song: Diana, My Sister that the monarch had sneered Diana would be forgotten "soon enough" during a phone call in the days following her passing.

In a very rare statement, a spokesperson for the king 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 judgement and colour memory in ways other...