Four copies of the Dutch edition of Earl Spencer’s unpublished book about his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales, were stolen from a truck in the Netherlands days before the book’s worldwide release.
Copies of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister disappeared while being transported from the printer to the Dutch publisher’s warehouse. The truck contained thousands of books, but only four copies were taken.
The driver was sleeping during a rest break
The truck driver had stopped in a parking area for a mandatory rest period and was sleeping in the vehicle’s cabin. The exact location of the theft has not been disclosed. Dutch police were notified and opened an investigation.
The theft took place in the Dutch countryside earlier this week. It remains unclear whether the copies were targeted because the thieves knew the book contained unpublished material or whether they were unaware of the books’ nature.
The book will be published on September 22
Penguin Michael Joseph, the UK publisher owned by Penguin Random House, and Dutch publisher Overamstel were asked to comment on the incident.
The book is scheduled for publication in the UK and internationally on September 22. It examines 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 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 speak openly about her in a positive tone. In his speech at Diana’s funeral, he had 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 after a traffic accident in Paris on August 31, 1997. Her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were 15 and 12 at the time, respectively.
At the funeral service in Westminster Abbey, Spencer also criticized the media’s treatment of Diana, describing her as the most closely followed person of the modern age. He also promised that his family would help prevent her sons from experiencing similar pain.
