Copies of Earl Spencer’s new book on Diana, Princess of Wales reported stolen just days before publication

Four copies of a new book about Diana, Princess of Wales written by her younger brother, Earl Spencer, have been reported stolen just days before official publication.

The copies of the book were taken from a lorry in the Netherlands.

It’s understood the lorry had left a printing plant in central Europe and had made its way to the Netherlands where it was parked in a remote area while the driver took a sleep break. On waking, he found the vehicle had been broken into and four copies of the book were gone.

The books were all wrapped in black plastic to keep them secret. Dutch police are now investigating.

Swan Song by Earl Spencer is set to be published on September 22 and a serialisation in the Daily Mail is also imminent.

The book is said to look in detail at the last years of Diana’s life, including the time her marriage to the now King Charles was falling apart. There are also reported to be insights into the days and weeks after the death of the princess following a car crash in Paris in August 1997.

Ahead of the publication, Earl Spencer told Hello magazine that ”As with my eulogy, I want to speak on Diana’s behalf and do so in an openly positive way.”

At Diana’s funeral, his passionate eulogy drew a round of applause from those inside Westminster Abbey.

The book comes with just under a year to go until the 30th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.