The Sunday Times - Issue 10,540

Sep 21, 2026

The Sunday Times issue dated September 20, 2026, reporting major UK and royal developments. The royal coverage centers on Earl Spencer’s new book and claims involving Princess Diana’s privacy, along with responses from King Charles’s camp and Buckingham Palace. Additional reporting addresses election financing, including the Electoral Commission’s consideration of spending-limit changes and the political impact of large Reform donations. The paper also includes an investigation into Christy Kinahan’s nine-day deadline to leave the UAE.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages292

Reading Time12 h 16 min

AccessFree to download

Royals and book controversy

Spencer’s claims and palace response

William and Harry’s stance

Elections watchdog and Reform donations

Spending limits and public trust

Mega donations and Westminster debate

Investigative update: Kinahan in UAE

Deadline to leave and visa changes

September 20, 2026 · Issue no 10,540 · [thetimes.com](thetimes.com) Sunday newspaper of the year £5 · only £2.75 to subscribers (based on a 7 day subscription) K1 GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE2027 Free 96-page magazine Magazine SYLVESTER STALLONE ‘Donald Trump and me’ Hypocrite Spencer is peddling Diana’s privacy, say King’s allies Insiders hit back at‘much-married’ earl who once lectured media for ‘hounding’ his sister Roya Nikkhah Royal Editor Earl Spencer is “peddling what little remains” of Princess Diana’s privacy with his new book, those close to the King have said. Hitting back at Spencer’s damning allegations about Charles in his memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which will be published on Tuesday, royal insiders described the “much-married” Spencer as getting out his “crested carving knives” for the King. Spencer, 62, has insisted his accounts of heated conversations with Charles after Diana’s death in August 1997 are him “telling the truth” and are his attempt to protect his sister’s memory. A friend of the King said: “That’s like an arsonist trying to sell you afire hose and about as convincing as all those others close to Diana who’ve cashed in on her confidences over the years. Why couldn’t they all have just let her rest in peace? “It is an irony lost on no one except perhaps the author that aman who once accused the media of hounding Diana to the grave has now peddled in the public bazaar what little remained of her privacy.” Several extracts of the book were published last week, while Charles, 77, who is still receiving treatment for cancer, hosted an AI conference in Scotland, where he remained this weekend with the Queen. An aide said Charles was“saddened that the sorrows of old are being dragged up again”, adding: “The King was rather more concerned about the future of mankind than the unkind claims of one man picking at the scars ofthe past. Ultimately, for all the claim and counterclaim, I suspect most people in the real world either don’t care about the whole thing or, if they do, they will make up their own minds about the reliability and morality of a much-married man like Charles Spencer. And they will see a King and a Queen simply getting on with the job in tough times, because ultimately that’s what really matters.” Last week Buckingham Palace issued a rare statement rejecting Spencer’s claims, which included the allegation that in the days after her death, Charles told Spencer during a phone call: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” On another call hours after Diana CRESTED KNIVES OUT FOR CHARLES PAGES 10-11 died, Spencer claimed Charles sounded “giddily elated” like “a lottery winner”. The Palace statement said:“While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.” Explaining why courtiers made the unusual move of issuing anon-the-record denial authorised by the monarch, an aide said: “A rubicon had been crossed. While thereis usually dignity in silence, what hope of dignity could there be in days of such horrendous injustice going unchallenged?” Neither the Prince of Wales northe Duke of Sussex has publicly acknowledged their uncle’s book. But a royal insider with knowledge of William’s views spoke of“multigenerational fury”. William is not close to Spencer, but Harry is. In July the Sussexes and their children stayed with him and his fourth wife, Professor Cat Jarman, at Althorp, Northamptonshire, his family seat and Diana’s resting place, before they returned to live in the UK last month. The King and the Palace are bracing themselves for further revelations. A friend of the King and Queen said: “It dents the bonnet but doesn’t crack the chassis.” AARON CHOWN/PA Camilla was at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire for the Queen’s Reading Room festival yesterday

FAQs

What issue date and issue number does this Sunday Times edition show?

It is dated September 20, 2026 and lists Issue no 10,540.

Why is Earl Spencer’s new book causing controversy in the royal coverage?

The article says Spencer is “peddling” Princess Diana’s privacy with allegations that have prompted denials and statements from the King’s circle and Buckingham Palace.

What election-related decision is the Electoral Commission considering?

The report states the head of Britain’s elections watchdog is considering slashing or tightening spending limits, which could blunt the impact of Reform’s large donations.

Sep 21, 2026

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