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Piers Morgan is continuing with his threat of legal action against Earl Spencer despite an apology over an error in Spencer’s new Princess Diana memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
The broadcaster says the book contains defamatory claims about him and has called for the disputed material to be removed. He has also demanded that copies of the first edition be withdrawn or pulped.
Spencer has acknowledged that he made an incorrect assumption about Morgan’s role in the publication of photographs of Diana in 1993. However, he maintains that his separate account of a conversation with Morgan is accurate.
The dispute has added another controversy to a memoir that has already attracted attention for its claims about Diana, King Charles and the British press.
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Why Is Piers Morgan Suing Earl Spencer?
The dispute began with a claim about Diana photographs
At the centre of the row is a passage in Spencer’s book concerning photographs of Diana exercising at a gym.
The photographs were published by the Sunday Mirror on 7 November 1993. Spencer’s account connected Morgan to the newspaper group and suggested that he may have felt particular guilt about the publication.
Morgan strongly rejected that suggestion.
He pointed out that he did not join the Daily Mirror until October 1995. At the time the photographs were published, he says he was working for The Sun, the Mirror‘s rival.
That timeline became the key factual issue in the dispute.
Earl Spencer Has Apologised for the Error
Spencer acknowledged that his assumption was wrong
Following Morgan’s challenge, Earl Spencer issued an apology.
He explained that he had incorrectly assumed Morgan was working at the Daily Mirror when the photographs were published.
Spencer said that, as a historian, accuracy was important to him and apologised for the error.
The correction does not dispute the publication date of the photographs. Instead, it acknowledges that Spencer was wrong about Morgan’s position at the Daily Mirror at that time.
The apology is significant because it confirms that at least one factual element of the passage was incorrect.
However, Spencer has not withdrawn every part of his account.
Spencer Says His Account of Morgan’s Behaviour Is Accurate
The funeral conversation remains disputed
Spencer has maintained that his recollection of a later conversation with Morgan is accurate.
According to the memoir, Spencer personally contacted newspaper editors after Diana’s death and told them they were not welcome at her funeral.
His account says Morgan reacted angrily when he was told he would not attend.
Spencer has now clarified that his assumption linking Morgan’s reaction to the 1993 photographs was wrong.
However, he continues to stand by his description of Morgan’s behaviour during their conversation.
Morgan disputes Spencer’s account and has said the wider claims about him are defamatory.
Piers Morgan Says He Will Continue With Legal Action
The apology has not ended the dispute
Morgan has made clear that Spencer’s apology has not resolved the matter.
In a statement on social media, Morgan said he was continuing with legal action against Spencer and the publisher, Penguin, seeking removal of what he considers defamatory material.
He has also said that he wants damages paid to The King’s Trust.
Morgan has additionally called for the book to be withdrawn from sale.
Speaking to ITV News, he questioned how readers could trust other claims in the memoir after what he described as an admitted falsehood about him.
Morgan Wants the First Edition Withdrawn
The publisher now faces pressure over the disputed passage
Morgan’s legal position goes beyond requesting a correction in future editions.
He has called for the book to be withdrawn and has used the word “pulp” when discussing remaining copies.
However, current reporting indicates that Spencer does not intend to remove the first edition from sale.
The e-book and future printed editions are expected to be updated to correct the factual error concerning Morgan’s employment at the time of the 1993 photographs.
This creates a clear disagreement over what should happen to copies that have already been published.
What Exactly Was Wrong in the Book?
The timeline is central to the correction
The disputed timeline can be explained simply:
- 7 November 1993: The Sunday Mirror published the photographs of Diana.
- 1993: Morgan says he was working for The Sun.
- October 1995: Morgan joined the Daily Mirror.
- 2026: Spencer’s memoir was published.
- September 2026: Spencer acknowledged that his assumption about Morgan’s role in 1993 was incorrect.
This is the factual error for which Spencer apologised.
An important distinction is that acknowledging this error does not automatically establish that every other disputed statement in the memoir is false.
Those issues remain contested.
The Wider Controversy Around Swan Song
Spencer’s memoir contains several major claims
The Morgan dispute is only one part of the attention surrounding Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
The book contains Earl Spencer’s recollections of his sister and claims about events involving the Royal Family.
Among the most widely reported claims are allegations about conversations Spencer says he had with the then-Prince Charles following Diana’s death.
Spencer has described Charles as sounding “giddily elated” during one conversation and has claimed that Charles later said, “we’ll forget her soon enough.”
Buckingham Palace issued an unusual response to the claims, saying that grief between siblings can affect judgment and memory over time.
Those claims have not been established as facts by a court.
Why the Morgan Dispute Matters
The row highlights the risks of historical memoirs
Memoirs often combine documented events with personal recollections and interpretations.
That can create difficulties when another person remembers the same event differently.
In this case, there is a clear factual question about the date of Morgan’s employment. Spencer has accepted that he got that part wrong.
But the disagreement over Morgan’s alleged reaction during their later telephone conversation involves competing accounts of a private exchange.
Examples of the two different issues include:
- Documentable fact: When Morgan joined the Daily Mirror.
- Disputed recollection: How Morgan reacted during the funeral conversation.
- Legal question: Whether any published statements meet the legal test for defamation.
- Publishing question: Whether the first edition should remain available.
These should not be treated as the same issue.
What Happens to Earl Spencer’s Book Now?
Future editions are expected to contain a correction
The immediate publishing response appears to involve correcting the inaccurate assumption in future versions.
Reports indicate that the e-book and later printed editions will be updated. Spencer, however, has said the first edition will not be withdrawn.
Morgan is seeking a much stronger response.
His position is that the correction does not go far enough and that the disputed claims should be removed.
The next significant development could therefore come from Morgan’s lawyers, Spencer’s legal representatives or Penguin.
Could the Dispute Go to Court?
A legal threat is not the same as a court judgment
Morgan has said he is pursuing legal action, but readers should distinguish between an announced legal claim and a final court decision.
For a defamation case, the legal arguments would depend on the precise wording published, its meaning, the circumstances of publication and the evidence available to both sides.
At the time of the latest reports, there had been no reported final court judgment determining the disputed claims.
That means the allegations and counter-allegations should continue to be described as disputed.
Key Facts About the Piers Morgan Earl Spencer Dispute
What readers need to know
- Earl Spencer’s memoir is titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
- The book was published on 22 September 2026.
- Spencer incorrectly linked Morgan to the Daily Mirror when photographs of Diana were published in 1993.
- Morgan says he was working for The Sun at the time.
- Morgan joined the Daily Mirror in October 1995.
- Spencer publicly apologised for the incorrect assumption.
- Spencer continues to stand by his account of Morgan’s behaviour during a later funeral-related conversation.
- Morgan says he will continue with legal action despite the apology.
- Morgan wants the disputed claims removed and has called for the book to be withdrawn.
- Future editions are expected to correct the factual error.
Why Princess Diana Remains at the Centre of the Story
Her relationship with the media continues to shape public debate
Princess Diana’s relationship with the press remains one of the most discussed aspects of her public life.
She was photographed extensively during her years as a member of the Royal Family, while newspapers competed intensely for stories and exclusive pictures.
The issue became even more sensitive following her death in Paris in 1997.
Spencer’s memoir revisits that period from his perspective, while Morgan’s dispute with him focuses on the accuracy of claims about the media’s treatment of Diana.
The disagreement shows how strongly contested memories of that period remain almost three decades later.
What Could Happen Next?
Several developments are possible
The situation could develop in a number of ways:
- Legal correspondence could continue between Morgan’s lawyers and Spencer’s representatives.
- The publisher could issue further corrections to future editions.
- The disputed passages could become part of formal legal proceedings.
- Morgan could continue publicly challenging Spencer’s account.
- Spencer could provide further evidence supporting his remaining claims.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Piers Morgan suing Earl Spencer?
Piers Morgan says Earl Spencer’s memoir contains defamatory claims about him. Morgan disputes passages concerning his alleged connection to photographs of Princess Diana and his behaviour when he was told he could not attend her funeral. He says he will continue with legal action despite Spencer’s apology.
What did Earl Spencer apologise to Piers Morgan for?
Spencer apologised for incorrectly assuming that Morgan was working at the Daily Mirror when photographs of Diana were published in November 1993. Morgan did not join the Daily Mirror until October 1995.
Did Earl Spencer withdraw all his claims about Piers Morgan?
No. Spencer acknowledged the factual error about Morgan’s employment but maintained that his account of Morgan’s behaviour during their conversation about Diana’s funeral was accurate.
Will Earl Spencer’s Diana book be withdrawn?
Morgan has called for the book to be withdrawn and for copies to be pulped. However, Spencer has said he will not withdraw the first edition. Reports indicate that the e-book and future printed editions will be corrected.
Has Piers Morgan won the legal case against Earl Spencer?
No. Morgan has announced that he intends to pursue legal action, but there has been no reported final court judgment deciding the dispute as of 23 September 2026.
