Four copies of the Dutch edition of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, a book about the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, from the perspective of her brother Charles Spencer, were taken from a truck in the Netherlands.
The copies went missing while they were being transported from the printing house to the Dutch publisher’s warehouse. Although the truck was carrying thousands of books, only four copies were stolen.
Police launch investigation
The truck driver was asleep in the vehicle’s cab when he stopped at a parking area for a mandatory rest period. The exact location of the theft has not been disclosed, but Dutch police became aware of the incident and launched an investigation.
The incident took place earlier this week in the Dutch countryside. It remains unclear whether the thieves acted knowingly because they knew the books contained unpublished material or whether they were unaware of the nature of the copies.
Publication set for September 22
British publisher Penguin Michael Joseph, part of Penguin Random House, and Dutch publisher Overamstel were asked to comment on the theft.
The book is scheduled for publication in the United Kingdom and internationally on September 22. It covers Diana’s childhood, marriage and the period surrounding her death through the memories and reflections of her younger brother, Charles Spencer.
Charles Spencer announced the book ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death. He said repeated requests for interviews had influenced his decision to write his memories rather than read narratives shaped by others.
Spencer said his aim was to tell Diana’s story from her brother’s perspective and to speak openly about her in positive terms. In his speech at Diana’s funeral, he also described his sister as the embodiment of compassion, duty, style and beauty.
Diana died in a Paris crash in 1997
Diana, Princess of Wales, died at the age of 36 following a traffic accident in Paris on August 31, 1997. Her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were 15 and 12, respectively, at the time.
At the funeral service at Westminster Abbey, Spencer criticized the media’s treatment of Diana and described her as the most watched person of the modern age. He also promised that her family would help prevent her sons from experiencing similar pain.
