Princess Diana’s Brother’s Sensational Memoir Stolen From Truck Days Before Publication

Several copies of Charles Spencer’s sensational memoir about his sister, Princess Diana, have been stolen from a truck just days before the book’s exclusive publication in the Daily Mail.

The memoir, titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, promises an intimate account of Diana’s unhappy marriage to the then Prince of Wales, as well as the crisis that engulfed the British royal family following her death in a car crash nearly 30 years ago.

“Charles Spencer has remained silent for almost 30 years, and what he reveals about the King’s reaction to Diana’s death is genuinely devastating,” a publishing industry source said on the eve of the book’s release.

Now, however, the memoir has become the center of another mysterious episode. A truck carrying thousands of copies of the book was reportedly broken into at a parking lot in the Netherlands this week.

The thieves took just four copies of the book, all of them wrapped in black plastic that concealed their contents. Publishing sources suspect the theft may have been a brazen attempt to obtain one of the year’s most highly anticipated books before its official release.

Dutch police are investigating the mysterious break-in. Publishing circles are already discussing various theories — from an opportunistic theft by ordinary criminals to a carefully planned operation carried out by someone who knew exactly what the truck was carrying.

“This is extremely suspicious. Nothing like this has happened before. It is probably the most anticipated book of the year, and the security measures surrounding it have been incredibly strict,” a publishing industry source said.

Another source stressed that every possible precaution had been taken ahead of publication to prevent the contents from leaking.

Swan Song is due to be released next Tuesday.

Before the memoir hits bookshelves, the Daily Mail will publish an exclusive series based on the book.

The memoir is already being described as “historic” and “incredibly moving.” It is a deeply personal account by Charles Spencer of his relationship with his older sister and her failed marriage.

Particular attention is given to the events of the fateful week following Diana’s death in August 1997, when the House of Windsor found itself at the center of an unprecedented wave of public grief and anger around the world.

Buckingham Palace is expected to brace for a series of shocking revelations that could once again reopen painful chapters in the history of the bitter separation and subsequent divorce of the former Prince and Princess of Wales.

Ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death, Charles Spencer has promised that his book, which will be released worldwide and translated into 12 languages, will help correct what he says were the lies told about his sister.

The 62-year-old Earl delivered an emotional and defiant speech at Diana’s funeral in Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was watched by an estimated 2.5 billion people around the world.