Dickie Arbiter
Role at the time: Royal commentator and former press spokesman for Queen Elizabeth II, interviewed on GB News
Statement summary
Interviewed on GB News, royal commentator Dickie Arbiter said that having worked for King Charles for five years he did not believe Charles ever said the words Spencer attributes to him, “let alone think that,” that Spencer “really has got an axe to grind,” and that the timing after 29 years suggests the claim is a “good line” that sells books. He said Spencer once said in a 1998 television interview that he would not profit from his sister. Later in the segment he said Spencer “needs money” and would earn it from the book, mainly in the United States.
“I have to say here and now, I worked for the King for five years. I was in very close proximity of him. I was his spokesman for five years. I do not believe he ever said that, let alone think that. It's just not in his DNA. He wouldn't even think anything like that. He wasn't capable of thinking like that. And I think Charles Spencer really has got an axe to grind. And you have to ask, why after 29 years? Why didn't he do it, say, on the 25th anniversary of Diana's death? Has he been harboring it for 29 years? I really do not understand why he's coming out with it now. I mean, yeah, it's a good line. It sells books and the books will fly off the shelves if people indeed want to read it or believe it. And he'll make a lot of money. It's interesting, isn't it? He once said in 1998 in a television interview, I will not profit on my sister. And what is he doing? Just that.”
Why we used this label
On whether Spencer’s account of Charles’s words and demeanour after Diana’s death is accurate, Arbiter disputes the attribution, saying Charles never said or thought what Spencer reports, and offers a competing account of Spencer’s motive. This is a challenge to the accuracy of Spencer’s characterization rather than a defence of any conduct, and is consistent in direction with his September 17 statement on BBC Newsnight. The closest competing label is condemns, which loses because he is disputing the account rather than criticizing conduct.