Piers Morgan Wants To Sue Earl Spencer Over Diana Memoir Error

Piers Morgan is threatening legal action against Earl Spencer and his publisher after identifying what he claims is a damaging factual error in the royal’s new memoir about Princess Diana. The broadcaster alleges that “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” falsely connects him to the publication of secretly taken photographs showing Diana exercising in a gym. Morgan argues that the timeline proves he was not working for the newspaper when the photographs appeared.

Spencer has since apologized for the error, but Morgan reportedly remains prepared to pursue legal action and wants the disputed allegation removed from the book. The clash adds to the memoir’s ongoing controversy, which has already prompted a rare public response from Buckingham Palace.

Piers Morgan Says The Memoir Contains ‘Fabricated Inaccuracies’

6

Morgan addressed the book during an episode of “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” arguing that questions about Spencer’s accuracy extend beyond his explosive allegations involving King Charles III. “Many allies of His Majesty have called into question these facts, ever since the most salacious accusations were serialized by the Daily Mail,” Morgan said, per The Guardian.

“Many royal commentators and experts have lined up to say that they simply don’t ring true. The King himself issued a furious rebuke that is almost without precedent,” he added. “But, in essence, this has all been about opinions. Recollections may vary, after all. Well, until now.”

Morgan then claimed he could demonstrate that a passage involving him was factually incorrect. “Because I can exclusively reveal on Uncensored that Earl Spencer’s book contains fabricated inaccuracies which will strike to the heart of his credibility,” he said.

The dispute centers on Spencer’s recollection of contacting newspaper editors after Diana’s 1997 death and withdrawing invitations to her funeral. According to the book, Morgan reacted angrily when he was informed that he would no longer be invited. “I remember this well, because I was one of them,” Morgan said.

Earl Spencer Connected Morgan To Princess Diana’s Gym Photographs

6

In the memoir, Spencer reportedly describes Morgan as sounding “surly” during their telephone conversation. The Earl then speculates that Morgan may have felt guilt over photographs secretly taken of Diana while she exercised in a leotard at a gym.

Those images were published by the Sunday Mirror on November 7, 1993, before appearing in the Daily Mirror the following day. Contemporary reports confirm that the photographs were taken without Diana’s permission and published by the two Mirror newspapers.

Diana took legal action over the invasive images. The dispute was resolved in 1995, with the photographs and their negatives set to be destroyed. However, Morgan insists that Spencer’s account incorrectly makes him personally responsible for the decision to publish them.

“Well, this is all pretty extraordinary stuff, isn’t it? And very damning, particularly about me,” Morgan told his audience. “I come across in the most despicable manner imaginable. There’s just one problem. It’s all bullsh-t and very, very easy bullsh-t for me to prove it.”

The Publication Timeline Supports Morgan’s Objection

6

Morgan’s strongest response concerns the timeline. “The photographs which he says that I published were printed by the Sunday Mirror on November 7, 1993. I joined the Daily Mirror in October in 1995,” he said. “In fact, at the time of the gym pictures, I was doing a showbiz column on the Mirror’s arch-rival, The Sun. About as far removed from responsibility for the Mirror scoop as I could possibly have been.”

Reports confirm that the photographs were published in November 1993. Morgan did not move to the Daily Mirror until 1995, when he became the newspaper’s editor. He remained in that position until 2004.

At the time the photographs appeared, David Banks was the Daily Mirror’s editor. Contemporary coverage quoted Banks defending the decision while acknowledging the secretive manner in which the images had been obtained.

Morgan Questioned The Credibility Of Spencer’s Other Claims

6

Morgan used the mistake to raise broader questions about Spencer’s recollections. “Earl Spencer was estranged from Diana and living in South Africa at the time of her death,” Morgan said. “As editor of the Daily Mirror, I had lunch with her at Kensington Palace with Prince William. After that, it wasn’t uncommon for her to call my office or for me to run stories by her… Ironically, by that time in her life, I think I was probably talking to her more often than he was.”

Morgan then challenged the reliability of the rest of the memoir. “My question, though, is this: if Earl Spencer can be so incredibly, defamatorily wrong about such basic facts involving me, well, why should we believe anything else he puts in this book?” he questioned.

“Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” includes several highly disputed claims about the aftermath of Diana’s death, including Spencer’s allegation that the future king said, “we’ll forget her soon enough.”

Buckingham Palace publicly disputed Spencer’s account, while the Earl maintained that he accurately remembered the alleged conversation.

Earl Spencer Apologized For The Error

6

Following Morgan’s public threat, Spencer acknowledged that his assumption about the broadcaster’s involvement in publishing the gym photographs was incorrect and issued an apology. The correction does not appear to have ended the dispute. Morgan has reportedly indicated that he still plans to proceed with legal action against Spencer and the book’s publisher.

Before the apology emerged, Morgan warned that Spencer and his publisher would hear from his attorneys. “I expect there will be many more examples of brazen falsity after what I’ve uncovered… In the meantime, Earl Spencer, you’ll be hearing, and your publishers, from my lawyers,” he said. “Because I would like the complete lie that you’ve published about me, and those photographs, to be removed from your book.”

Morgan also requested a charitable payment. “And I would like a donation to be made to the King’s Trust for the damage that you’ve caused with your lie, after all,” he said. “To quote somebody, you can’t dish it out without getting it in return, right?”

What Could Happen To The Book?

6

Morgan’s announcement does not automatically require “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” to be removed from stores. The publisher could correct future printings, amend digital editions, or negotiate a settlement without withdrawing the entire memoir. Any broader action would depend on the publisher’s response, the specific legal claims Morgan files, and whether the parties reach an agreement.

As of now, Morgan has publicly threatened legal action, but no court ruling has found Spencer or the publisher liable for defamation.