Four copies of Earl Spencer’s upcoming memoir about his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales, have reportedly been stolen from a truck in the Netherlands just days before the book’s international release.
The stolen books were Dutch-language editions of Swan Song: Diana, My Sister. They were being transported from a printing facility to the Dutch publisher’s warehouse when the incident occurred, according to British media reports.
A source familiar with the case said the truck driver had stopped at a parking area for a legally required rest period and was sleeping inside the vehicle when the books were taken.
The exact location of the theft has not been revealed. Dutch police have been informed and are investigating the incident.
The Daily Mail, which initially reported the theft and is publishing the memoir in installments, said the incident happened earlier this week in the Dutch countryside.
Although the truck reportedly contained thousands of books, only four copies were stolen. It remains unclear whether the thieves specifically targeted the unreleased memoir or took the books without knowing their contents.
Penguin Michael Joseph, the British publisher, and Dutch publisher Overamstel were contacted for comment.
The memoir is due to be released in Britain and internationally on Sept. 22. Written from Charles Spencer’s perspective, the book discusses Diana’s childhood, her marriage and the events surrounding her death.
Spencer announced the book ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death. He said repeated requests for interviews encouraged him to record his own memories rather than continue seeing her story told through the accounts of others.
He said the memoir aims to present Diana’s story from the perspective of her brother and to portray her in a positive manner.
Diana died aged 36 in a car crash in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997. Her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were 15 and 12 respectively at the time.
During Diana’s funeral at Westminster Abbey, Spencer praised his sister for her compassion, sense of duty, style and beauty. He also condemned the intense media attention surrounding her and promised that the family would work to shield her sons from similar experiences.
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