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Piers Morgan has announced legal action against Earl Spencer and the publisher of his new Princess Diana memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, after disputing claims made about his role in the press coverage of Diana.
Morgan says the book contains what he describes as “demonstrable lies” and “fabricated inaccuracies” about him. He has called for the disputed material to be removed from future copies of the book and has also requested a donation to The King’s Trust.
The dispute centres on claims surrounding newspaper coverage of Princess Diana, including photographs taken secretly at a gym in 1993 and an alleged conversation between Morgan and Earl Spencer following Diana’s death in 1997.
The Independent reported on 22 September 2026 that Morgan announced his position on his YouTube programme Piers Morgan Uncensored after reading the claims in Spencer’s newly released memoir.
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What Is the Dispute Between Piers Morgan and Earl Spencer?
The disagreement centres on how Earl Spencer describes Piers Morgan’s connection to the publication of photographs of Diana exercising at a gym.
In his memoir, Spencer describes the intense media attention surrounding his sister during her lifetime. He also discusses his efforts to keep newspaper editors away from Diana’s funeral after her death in 1997.
According to the reported passage, Spencer linked Morgan to photographs of Diana that were taken using hidden cameras at a gym.
Spencer wrote that he believed Morgan may have felt particular guilt over the publication of the photographs.
Morgan strongly rejects that account.
He argues that the timeline makes the claim about his involvement inaccurate. Morgan says the photographs were published by the Sunday Mirror in November 1993, while he did not join the Daily Mirror until October 1995.
At the time the photographs were published, Morgan says he was working for The Sun as a showbusiness columnist.
That timeline is at the centre of his objection.
Why Piers Morgan Says the Claim Is Incorrect
Morgan’s response is based largely on the dates involved.
According to his account:
- The disputed photographs were published in 1993.
- Morgan says he joined the Daily Mirror in October 1995.
- He says he was working for The Sun when the photographs appeared.
- He therefore disputes Spencer’s suggestion that he was responsible for the Mirror publication.
Morgan has argued that the chronology can be checked against historical newspaper records.
Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, he described the allegation as extremely serious and said it was something he believed could be disproved.
He subsequently said his lawyers would contact Spencer and the publisher.
Morgan Wants the Passage Removed From the Book
Morgan’s complaint is not limited to publicly challenging Spencer’s version of events.
He has said he wants the disputed material removed from the book.
He also called for a donation to be made to The King’s Trust, linking the request to the damage he says the allegation has caused.
The publisher named in reports is Michael Joseph, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
At this stage, readers should distinguish between an announced intention to take legal action and a court finding.
A legal complaint or threatened lawsuit does not, by itself, establish that either side’s account is legally proven.
Earl Spencer’s Claims About Diana’s Funeral
The dispute also involves an account of events surrounding Princess Diana’s funeral.
Earl Spencer reportedly wrote that he personally contacted newspaper editors and asked them not to attend the funeral because of the intense press scrutiny surrounding Diana.
Spencer’s memoir claims that Morgan reacted angrily during their conversation.
The book reportedly describes Morgan as sounding “surly” and says he allegedly “snarled with annoyance” before ending the call.
Morgan disputes the account of his behaviour.
This part of the disagreement is separate from the dispute over the 1993 gym photographs, although both appear in the broader argument between the broadcaster and Diana’s brother.
Why Princess Diana’s Press Coverage Remains Controversial
Princess Diana had an unusually intense relationship with the British media.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, photographs and stories about her private life regularly appeared in newspapers and magazines.
The level of press attention became an important part of discussions surrounding her death in Paris in August 1997.
Diana was killed in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel while travelling with Dodi Fayed. The crash also killed Fayed and their driver, Henri Paul.
Questions about paparazzi activity and media intrusion became part of the public debate following her death.
That history provides important context for Spencer’s account of his actions around the funeral and his wider criticism of the press.
What Does Earl Spencer’s Book Say About Diana?
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is a memoir by Earl Spencer focused heavily on his relationship with his younger sister and his memories of the period surrounding her death.
The book has attracted considerable attention because it contains Spencer’s personal recollections of Diana and several claims involving members of the Royal Family and the media.
Among the other claims reported from the memoir are allegations about a conversation Spencer says he had with King Charles following Diana’s death.
Those claims have also generated a public response from Buckingham Palace.
The Palace has suggested that the pain of losing a sibling can affect memory, judgement and how events are remembered.
This wider controversy means that Morgan’s legal dispute is only one part of the debate surrounding the memoir.
Key Points in the Piers Morgan Earl Spencer Legal Action
The dispute can be summarised through several important points:
- The book: Spencer’s memoir is titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
- The allegation: Spencer’s account links Morgan to the publication of secret photographs of Diana.
- Morgan’s response: He strongly denies responsibility for the publication described in the book.
- The timeline: Morgan says the photographs appeared in 1993, before he joined the Daily Mirror in 1995.
- Legal action: Morgan says he is taking legal action against Spencer and the publishers.
- His demand: Morgan wants the disputed material removed.
- Additional request: He has also called for a donation to The King’s Trust.
- Important distinction: Reports have described Morgan’s announcement of legal action, but it was not immediately clear whether formal court proceedings had already been issued.
What Happens Next?
The next stage will depend on whether Morgan’s lawyers formally commence proceedings and how Spencer and the publisher respond.
Possible developments could include:
- A response from Earl Spencer or his representatives.
- A response from Michael Joseph or Penguin Random House.
- Corrections or changes to future editions of the memoir.
- Formal legal proceedings if the dispute is not resolved.
- Further public discussion of the historical evidence surrounding the disputed claims.
Until any legal proceedings are determined, claims made by either side should be treated as disputed rather than established facts.
Why the Story Is Receiving So Much Attention
The dispute combines several subjects that continue to attract significant public interest: Princess Diana, the British Royal Family, the relationship between celebrities and the press, and the publication of a major royal memoir.
It also involves two highly recognisable public figures.
For Morgan, the central issue is his claim that the book wrongly associates him with a newspaper story published before he joined the Daily Mirror.
For Spencer, the memoir represents his personal account of Diana and the events surrounding her life and death.
The disagreement therefore raises an important question about historical memoirs: how should personal recollections be handled when another person disputes the accuracy of the account?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Piers Morgan Earl Spencer legal action about?
Piers Morgan says he is taking legal action against Earl Spencer and his publishers over claims made about him in Spencer’s Princess Diana memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister. Morgan disputes the accuracy of passages connecting him to the publication of photographs of Diana.
What claim does Piers Morgan dispute?
Morgan disputes Spencer’s suggestion that he was involved in publishing photographs of Diana taken secretly at a gym. Morgan says the photographs were published in 1993, two years before he joined the Daily Mirror.
When did Piers Morgan join the Daily Mirror?
Morgan says he joined the Daily Mirror in October 1995. He has used that date to challenge Spencer’s account of his alleged involvement in the 1993 gym photographs.
What does Earl Spencer’s book say about Piers Morgan?
The memoir reportedly discusses Morgan in connection with press coverage of Diana and claims Spencer believed Morgan reacted angrily when asked not to attend Diana’s funeral. Morgan disputes the account and has also challenged the claims about the 1993 photographs.
Has Piers Morgan already won the legal case?
No court outcome has been reported in the material available as of 22 September 2026. Morgan has announced legal action, but a reported announcement of legal action should not be treated as a court judgment or finding.
