The short version
- Piers Morgan has announced plans to sue Earl Spencer for defamation following allegations in a new memoir about Princess Diana.
- Morgan disputes specific claims that he was responsible for publishing gym photographs of the princess, citing timeline evidence that contradicts the book's narrative.
- The legal threat underscores broader skepticism regarding the accuracy of Spencer's account, which has already faced criticism from royal experts and Buckingham Palace.
A significant dispute has emerged between broadcaster Piers Morgan and Earl Spencer following the release of a new memoir by the royal relative. Morgan has publicly declared his intention to pursue legal action against Spencer, alleging that the book contains fabricated inaccuracies and brazen falsities regarding his own professional conduct. The conflict centers on specific assertions made in Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which Morgan argues are demonstrably false and damaging to his reputation.
The core of Morgan’s objection involves a claim by Spencer that Morgan was responsible for the publication of photographs showing Princess Diana exercising in a gym. According to the memoir, these images were taken by a hidden camera while she wore a leotard, and Spencer alleges that Morgan orchestrated their release as editor of a tabloid newspaper. Morgan strongly refutes this characterization, describing the allegations as defamatory and factually incorrect.
To counter the accusations, Morgan presented a detailed timeline on his YouTube program, Piers Morgan Uncensored. He pointed out that the photographs in question were published by the Sunday Mirror on November 7, 1993. At that time, Morgan was not employed by the Daily Mirror or its sister publications; instead, he was writing a showbiz column for The Sun, a direct competitor to the Mirror group. This chronological discrepancy serves as the primary evidence for his defense.
Morgan emphasized that he did not join the Daily Mirror until October 1995, nearly two years after the controversial images appeared in print. He argued that this gap makes it impossible for him to have been involved in the decision to publish the photos. By highlighting his employment history during the relevant period, Morgan seeks to dismantle the credibility of Spencer’s narrative regarding his role in tabloid journalism.
Beyond the photographic controversy, Morgan challenged other aspects of Spencer’s account. The earl claimed to have personally visited tabloid editors to uninvite them from Princess Diana’s funeral after they had initially received invitations. Morgan stated that he was indeed one of the editors contacted and recalled the event clearly. He disputed Spencer’s description of the interaction, which portrayed the editor as snarling with annoyance before hanging up.
The broader context of this dispute involves significant skepticism surrounding Spencer’s memoir. The book has already drawn sharp criticism from royal commentators and experts who question its reliability. Notably, Buckingham Palace issued a rare and forceful rebuke regarding other claims in the book, including an allegation that King Charles remarked they would forget Diana soon after her death. This institutional pushback adds weight to Morgan’s argument that the memoir lacks factual integrity.
Morgan used the platform of his show to question the overall trustworthiness of Spencer’s work. He suggested that if such basic facts regarding his own career and actions are incorrect, readers should be wary of accepting other assertions in the book without scrutiny. He noted that many allies of the King have also raised doubts about the salacious accusations serialized by the Daily Mail, framing the issue as one of verifiable truth versus subjective recollection.
The legal threat marks an escalation in what has been a war of words between Spencer and various figures associated with the royal family. Morgan stated that he would be contacting Spencer’s lawyers and those representing his publisher, Penguin Random House. While Spencer has not yet responded directly to these specific allegations, the situation highlights the intense scrutiny facing new publications about Princess Diana.
This confrontation underscores the difficulties in establishing a definitive historical record regarding the final years of Princess Diana’s life. Competing narratives from family members and media figures continue to clash, with each side asserting their version of events. The potential lawsuit may force a closer examination of the evidence supporting Spencer’s claims, particularly those involving third parties like Morgan.
As the legal process potentially moves forward, attention will likely remain on how courts evaluate the credibility of memoirs versus documented professional records. Morgan’s strategy relies on hard data regarding employment dates and publication histories to counter subjective storytelling. The outcome could set a precedent for how future disputes over royal biographies are handled in the media landscape.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗Piers Morgan says he will sue Earl Spencer over ‘fabricated inaccuracies’
