Charles Spencer Recalled Suitor Proposed to Princess Diana
A memoir by the late princess's brother claims an American suitor once urged her to marry him to win the U.S. presidency.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Divorce
In his new memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, Charles Spencer reveals that an anonymous American suitor asked Princess Diana to marry him to help secure a presidential win. The proposal took place during the 1990s as the princess navigated her separation and eventual divorce from Prince Charles.
Why it matters
The revelation underscores Diana's interest in reinventing herself during the turbulent years following her separation from the British royal family. The prospect of becoming an American First Lady offered a distinct path away from the pressures of life within the monarchy.
Princess Diana, who died at age 36, was 19 when she worked as a kindergarten assistant. Prince Charles was 32 in 1980 and is currently 77.
The players
Charles Spencer
He is the younger brother of Princess Diana and the author of the memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
Princess Diana
She was the Princess of Wales who became a global cultural icon after her marriage to Prince Charles.
Prince Charles
He was the husband of Princess Diana until their divorce was finalized in 1996.
Hasnat Khan
He is a British-Pakistani surgeon who maintained a private relationship with the princess in the mid-1990s.
Dodi Fayed
He was an Egyptian film producer who was in a relationship with Princess Diana shortly before her death.
The details
Charles Spencer writes that Diana questioned her brother about whether she would be a suitable First Lady while considering the suitor's pitch. During the same period in the 1990s, Diana also entered relationships with surgeon Hasnat Khan and Dodi Fayed.
Timeline
Princess Diana and Prince Charles separated in 1992.
The princess entered a romantic relationship with Hasnat Khan in 1995.
Diana and Charles finalized their formal divorce in 1996.
Her relationship with Hasnat Khan concluded in July 1997.
Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997.
Culture Shift
The memoir follows the enduring legacy of public fascination established by the 1996 finalization of the divorce between Princess Diana and Prince Charles. This latest account highlights how the princess sought personal reinvention amidst the intense scrutiny that followed her departure from the royal family.
Readers interested in the history of the British monarchy may find this account useful for understanding the princess's private deliberations. The memoir illustrates how public figures often explore vastly different life trajectories when facing major personal transitions.
The takeaway
The memoir serves as a reminder of the intense pressures facing high-profile figures during their most vulnerable transitions. It highlights the human desire to seek a fresh start even when living under constant public examination.
Further reading
Explore the history of high-profile separations in the Divorce section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RadarOnline.
