Copies of Charles Spencer's Diana memoir stolen from Dutch lorry
A lorry carrying thousands of copies of Charles Spencer's forthcoming memoir about his sister Princess Diana was broken into while the driver rested at a lay‑by in the Dutch countryside. Four copies wrapped in black plastic were taken from the vehicle. The book, titled "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister" and due for publication on September 22 by Michael Joseph, a division of Penguin Random House, is said to contain revelations about Diana's marriage and the crisis that followed her death.
Publishing insiders have described the theft as "extremely suspicious" and noted that security measures around the shipment were unusually stringent. Dutch police have opened a probe into the incident.
How this was covered
- Left-leaning outlets covered this 12h later
Why it matters
The theft involves a high‑profile royal memoir slated for release, highlighting concerns about the security of major publishing shipments.
How this story developed
- Sep 2 Prince George to start at Eton under unprecedented security and privacy rules
- Sep 6 Prince Harry and Meghan have returned to the United Kingdom.
- Sep 13 The royal family announced it will not release school updates or exam results for Prince George.
- Sep 14 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been asked by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee to provide detailed daily-routine information for a new government-backed security risk assessment ahead of their move back to Britain.
- Sep 15 Ravec has asked the couple to provide detailed daily‑routine information for the risk assessment.
- Sep 15 A lorry carrying the soon-to-be-released book "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister" was intercepted while the driver slept at a lay-by in the Dutch countryside. Four copies, concealed in black plastic, vanished from the vehicle. The theft has prompted a Dutch police investigation, with publishing insiders describing the incident as highly unusual given the tight security surrounding the high-profile release scheduled for September 22.
- Sep 17 Dutch police have opened a probe into the theft.
- Sep 17 The children were transferred to a different school after two days due to safety and privacy concerns.
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