Earl Spencer, brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, has apologized for certain inaccuracies in his new memoir, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," while standing by other claims made in the book. The memoir, published recently, has sparked controversy due to allegations involving media personality Piers Morgan and comments attributed to the King following Diana's death in 1997.

The dispute centers on two key points. Firstly, Spencer claimed in his book that Morgan, then editor of the Daily Mirror, responded with annoyance when Spencer informed him that Morgan was not invited to Diana’s funeral. A statement released on Spencer’s behalf affirmed that the account of the phone call was accurate, describing Morgan as “surly and annoyed” during the conversation nearly 30 years ago. Morgan, however, strongly denies this characterization, calling the claim “bullshit” and insisting he was respectful toward Spencer and his family. He also challenged Spencer’s recollection of their interaction as “deeply misleading.”

Secondly, Spencer’s book suggested that Morgan was responsible for publishing covert photos of Diana taken at a gym in 1993. However, Morgan was working at The Sun at the time and did not join the Daily Mirror until 1995. Spencer acknowledged this error and issued an apology for incorrectly attributing the publication to Morgan. Future editions of the memoir will be edited to reflect this correction.

Following the apology, Morgan announced plans to pursue legal action against Spencer and the book’s publisher, Penguin, seeking removal of the contested material and damages to be donated to the King’s Trust. He also vowed to continue his dispute via his platform, Piers Morgan Uncensored.

The memoir also includes other contentious content, including Spencer’s claim that the King told him, shortly after Diana’s death, “we’ll forget her soon enough” during a phone call. This claim has not been publicly addressed by the King or the royal household, although Buckingham Palace issued a statement emphasizing the sensitivity of fraternal grief and the potential for memory to be affected by emotional pain.

Responses from members of the royal family have been notably restrained. The Prince of Wales did not respond to questions about the memoir during a public engagement, while Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have made no public comments on the book. Meghan promoted a product from her As Ever brand in a newsletter while the Sussexes recently returned to the UK with their children.

The release of Earl Spencer’s memoir has reignited discussions about Diana’s legacy, the royal family’s private grief, and media portrayals from the period surrounding her death. Legal proceedings and further public reactions are anticipated as the controversy unfolds.