Four copies of Charles Spencer’s new Princess Diana memoir have reportedly been stolen from a lorry in the Netherlands.
The Daily Mail claims the break-in happened only days before Swan Song: Diana, My Sister reaches shelves.
His memoir about Princess Diana is scheduled for publication on September 22 this year. The alleged theft has raised concern within publishing circles about early circulation of the book’s contents.
Earl Spencer has written a book about his sister (Credit: Shutterstock)
Dutch police investigate Princess Diana book theft
According to the Daily Mail, a lorry carrying thousands of copies was travelling from a central European printing plant to a Dutch warehouse. The books were destined for shops across the Netherlands.
The driver stopped overnight at a countryside lay-by and slept, according to the report. When morning came, the driver discovered that somebody had broken into the vehicle.
Only four copies of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister were reportedly missing from the shipment. The books had apparently been wrapped in black plastic to conceal their contents.
Publishing sources have suggested the small haul could point to an attempt to obtain the memoir early. Dutch police are reportedly investigating the theft.
A publishing source called it “extremely suspicious” and said the incident was being taken seriously. The same source claimed strict security measures were intended to stop material leaking before planned serialisation.
The reports do not identify any suspect or establish why those copies were taken. Claims about a planned leak therefore remain industry speculation, rather than a reported police conclusion.
Princess Diana was well loved (Credit: Shutterstock)
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