Full Breakdown
Earl Spencer’s memoir error sparks legal threat from Piers Morgan
By Drooid · · How we work
The disputed claim in *Swan Song*
Charles Spencer, Earl Spencer, published the memoir *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister* on 22 September 2026. He asserted that Piers Morgan, then editor of the Daily Mirror, was responsible for publishing “intrusive” photographs of Princess Diana taken in a gym in 1993. Morgan denied the allegation, saying he was not editor of the Mirror at that time and that the images appeared in the Sunday Mirror on 7 November 1993. The disagreement has escalated into a threatened defamation lawsuit.
Background to the memoir controversy
Spencer’s memoir revisits his sister’s life and the media scrutiny surrounding her death. The book links Morgan’s alleged editorial role to the 1993 gym photographs, a claim that several media outlets flagged as inaccurate. Morgan responded on his YouTube programme *Piers Morgan Uncensored*, emphasizing his position at the rival tabloid The Sun when the pictures were published.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 7 November 1993 | Sunday Mirror publishes the hidden-camera photographs of Diana in a leotard. |
| October 1995 | Morgan joins the Daily Mirror as editor (two years after the photographs appeared). |
| 22 September 2026 | *Swan Song* is released by Penguin Press. |
| 22 September 2026 | Morgan announces legal action to have the disputed passages removed and to seek damages for the King’s Trust. |
Data & Statistics
- The disputed photographs were printed on 7 November 1993.
- Morgan’s tenure as Daily Mirror editor began in October 1995.
- The memoir’s hardback retails for £28 and was marked at half price in several London stores on release day.
Official Statements & Responses
He also demanded that any damages be donated to the King’s Trust.
Criticism & Opposition
Morgan characterized the passage as “defamatory lies” and warned that the book’s continued sale would cause further harm.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The memoir describes Morgan’s reaction to a phone call about Diana’s funeral as “surly and annoyed.” Morgan, however, has publicly asserted that he was “very respectful” during the conversation and that his diaries record a courteous tone.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If Earl Spencer can be so incredibly defamatorily wrong about such basic facts involving me, well why should we believe anything else that he puts in this book?” — Piers Morgan
- “The only one who sounded surly, as opposed to merely confused or embarrassed, was Piers Morgan of the Mirror, who snarled with annoyance before he hung up,” — Earl Spencer
- “I come across in the despicable manner imaginable,” — Piers Morgan
- “The photographs, which he says that I published, were printed by The Sunday Mirror on November 7, 1993. I joined The Daily Mirror in October 1995. In fact, at the time of the gym pictures, I was doing a showbiz column on The Mirror’s arch rival, The Sun.” — Piers Morgan Uncensored
- “You'll be hearing, and your publishers, from my lawyers.” — Piers Morgan
The dispute underscores the high stakes of memoir publishing when factual errors intersect with defamation law. Both parties maintain that the truth of their respective accounts will ultimately be decided in court.