Piers Morgan has announced plans to pursue legal action against Earl Spencer over allegations in Spencer’s new memoir, *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister*, which Morgan describes as containing “fabricated inaccuracies” and “brazen falsity.” The dispute centers on Spencer’s claim that Morgan was responsible for the publication of intrusive photographs showing Diana, Princess of Wales, working out in a gym in the mid-1990s.
In the book, Spencer recounts a phone call in which he personally informed Morgan, among other tabloid editors, that they were no longer welcome at Princess Diana’s funeral. Spencer describes Morgan as responding with annoyance during the call. Morgan confirmed the call but disputed Spencer’s attribution of the gym photos, which were published by the *Sunday Mirror* in November 1993—nearly two years before Morgan joined the *Daily Mirror* as editor in October 1995. At the time, Morgan was writing a showbiz column for the *Sun* newspaper, a rival publication, placing him outside any editorial responsibility for those pictures.
Morgan stated on his YouTube show, *Piers Morgan Uncensored*, that Spencer’s misrepresentation was “easily provable” and that the implication his role involved the invasion of Diana’s privacy was “completely untrue.” He added that this error undermined Spencer’s credibility and questioned the accuracy of the rest of the memoir. Morgan also cited his professional relationship with Diana, mentioning a meeting with her and Prince William at Kensington Palace and subsequent communications, suggesting he maintained contact with the princess in her later years.
Following Morgan’s public challenge, Earl Spencer issued a statement clarifying that he had incorrectly assumed Morgan was editor of the *Daily Mirror* at the time of the intrusive photo publication. Spencer apologized to Morgan for this error but maintained that his recollection of the phone call and Morgan’s reaction was accurate. He emphasized the importance of factual accuracy in his work and expressed regret over the mistaken attribution.
Despite the apology, Morgan rejected it and confirmed he had engaged lawyers to seek the removal of the contested content from the book and to pursue damages, including on behalf of the King’s Trust. He criticized Spencer’s account as defamatory and called for copies of the book to be withdrawn.
On the day of the book’s release, some retailers reportedly discounted *Swan Song* by up to 50 percent, with several copies marked down across prominent bookstores, including Waterstones’ flagship Piccadilly location. The sales response may indicate a subdued market reaction amid ongoing controversy.
The feud between Morgan and Spencer unfolds amid wider scrutiny over the narrative surrounding Princess Diana’s life and legacy, reflecting longstanding tensions within the British royal family’s public discourse. Both men remain engaged in defending their respective accounts regarding events surrounding the princess’s death and media representation.