Musician Phil Collins has sharply criticized Earl Charles Spencer's new memoir about Princess Diana, calling the book appalling during an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored.
Collins also defended King Charles, drawing on his decades-long relationship with the monarch through charitable work.
The controversy centers on Spencer's memoir, titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which details the aftermath of Princess Diana's death.
In the book, Spencer alleged that the former Prince of Wales made insensitive remarks during a telephone conversation about funeral arrangements.
Spencer claimed Charles sounded elated following Diana's death and allegedly made remarks about forgetting her.
He later reiterated those statements during a media appearance on CNN.
Collins Rejects Spencer's Account
During the broadcast preview, Collins directly addressed the publication and questioned the motivations behind releasing the controversial book.
"The Spencer book is appalling," Collins said.
The former Genesis frontman explained that he had no intention of purchasing or reading the memoir despite its high public visibility.
"I haven't read it, and I won't be reading it, but he knows what he's doing, or the publishers know what they're doing, because everybody will want to read the book," Collins said.
"That's obvious."
Morgan specifically asked Collins whether he believed the accounts describing the King's alleged behavior following the tragedy.
"No, I don't think that happened at all," Collins said.
Collins highlighted his long-standing charitable work as the foundation for his personal perspective on the British monarch.
"I've been with the Prince's Trust, now the King's Trust, for 40 years, and during that time, I've met the Prince and now the King many times," Collins said.
"I'd get letters from him, just personal letters.
I used to see him an awful lot with the Trust, and I went to a garden party not long ago, to the King's Trust at the Palace."
The musician reaffirmed his ongoing support for the monarch despite the public dispute surrounding the royal family.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for him," Collins said.
Collins suggested that financial proceeds from the book should be redirected toward charitable initiatives associated with the late Princess of Wales.
"I would feel a lot better about it if he did donate all the proceeds to charity or Diana's charity," Collins said.
"It's a shame he feels he has to resort to this.
I don't see any winners out of this, apart from the publishers who, unless they give the money away, they're going to make a lot of money and Spencer, depending on what his deal is with the publishers."
In response to the memoir's assertions, Buckingham Palace stated that His Majesty is mindful that fraternal grief can cloud reason and affect judgment many years after a loss, as reported by People.
Addressing the royal household's public response, Spencer characterized the statement from Buckingham Palace as aggressive and accused the institution of gaslighting during an event in New York.
