New Book Claims Princess Diana Sought Divorce After Discovering Husband's Affair With Valet

Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, claims in his new book that his sister decided to divorce the future King Charles after discovering an affair between him and his valet. In the book titled 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,' the 9th Earl of Spencer writes that Diana shared this reason during a lunch at a posh London restaurant. When Spencer expressed worry that the British public would turn against her because people believed in the fairytale of her marriage, Diana reportedly said, "But my husband is in love with his valet." Spencer does not name the valet in his book. However, journalist Tom Sykes noted that a toxic rumour circulated in royal circles during the 2000s claiming Charles had a relationship with a staff member. Michael Fawcett was the valet when Charles and Diana married and divorced. Fawcett started as a footman to Queen Elizabeth in 1981 and later became Charles's valet and the head of The Prince's Foundation, a nonprofit funding the prince's favorite charities. King Charles once said he could manage without almost anyone except Michael Fawcett. UK police previously investigated alleged misconduct in the royal household and found the claims involving Fawcett unsubstantiated. A spokesperson for Charles rejected the new allegations, calling them totally ludicrous and risible. The book also details tense conversations Spencer had with the then Prince of Wales after Diana's death in 1997. Additionally, the text notes that Princess Diana briefly dated Egyptian film producer Dodi Fayed before they died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. Fayed, a divorcee who previously married model Suzanne Gregard in 1986, first met Diana at a 1986 polo match where Fayed played against Charles.