EXCLUSIVE: Piers Morgan hits back at Earl Spencer apology with brutal statement
Piers Morgan has claimed Earl Spencer has apologised to him over statements published in his new Princess Diana memoir — but the broadcaster says he still intends to pursue legal action.
Morgan issued the update on Tuesday, September 22, the same day Swan Song: Diana, My Sister was released.
The Piers Morgan Uncensored host had previously accused Spencer of publishing false and defamatory claims about him in the book.
Writing on X, Morgan announced: “BREAKING NEWS Earl Spencer has apologised to me for his defamatory lies published in his new book, Swan Song, published today.”
However, he immediately made clear that he does not consider the matter resolved.
“But I am pursuing legal action against him and his publisher, Penguin, to have the lies removed and damages paid to the King’s Trust,” Morgan added.
The source does not include the wording of Spencer’s reported apology or a separate statement from Penguin.
Morgan Disputes Claim Over Diana Gym Photographs
The row centres partly on a passage in Spencer’s memoir concerning photographs of Diana wearing a leotard while exercising at a gym.
According to the book, Spencer linked Morgan to the publication of the photographs in the Sunday Mirror.
Morgan insists that connection is factually wrong because he was not working for the newspaper when the images appeared.
Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, he said: “The photographs, which he says I published, were printed by the Sunday Mirror on November 7, 1993.”
Morgan continued: “I joined the Daily Mirror in October in 1995.”
He said that at the time the photographs were published, he was actually working for a rival newspaper.
“In fact, at the time of the gym pictures, I was doing a showbiz column on the Mirror’s arch-rival, The Sun,” he said.
“About as far removed from responsibility for the Mirror scoop as I could possibly have been.”
Spencer Also Recalled Funeral Phone Call
Another disputed passage concerns Diana’s funeral following her death in Paris in 1997.
Spencer writes that he personally contacted tabloid editors to withdraw invitations to the service.
He recalled Morgan’s alleged reaction in the book, writing: “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.”
Spencer suggested Morgan may have reacted that way because of “guilt” relating to the earlier gym photographs.
Morgan strongly rejected the portrayal.
“Well, this is all pretty extraordinary stuff, isn’t it?” he said on his programme.
“And very damning, particularly about me. I come across in the most despicable manner imaginable.”
He then dismissed the account in blunt terms, saying it was “very, very easy” for him to disprove.
Morgan Questions Spencer’s Wider Credibility
Morgan argued that if Spencer had made what he sees as a basic factual error involving him, it raised questions about other claims contained in the memoir.
“My question though is this, if Earl Spencer can be so incredibly, defamatorially wrong about such basic facts involving me, well, why should we believe anything else he puts in this book?” he said.
That is Morgan’s own assessment of Spencer’s credibility rather than an established conclusion about the memoir as a whole.
The book contains a series of personal recollections about Diana, the Royal Family and events surrounding her death.
Several of Spencer’s claims about King Charles have already prompted public controversy and a response from Buckingham Palace.
Morgan Still Wants Claims Removed
Despite saying Spencer has now apologised, Morgan insists he wants the disputed material formally removed from the book.
He had previously warned Spencer and Penguin that they would be hearing from his lawyers.
“Because I would like the complete lie that you’ve published about me, and those photographs, to be removed from your book,” Morgan said.
He has also demanded that any damages be directed to the King’s Trust rather than paid to him personally.
“And I would like a donation to be made to the King’s Trust for the damage that you’ve caused with your lie, after all,” he said.
Morgan finished with a pointed message: “To quote somebody, you can’t dish it out without getting it in return, right?”
The dispute therefore remains unresolved.
Morgan says an apology has been made, but he is still pushing ahead with legal action aimed at removing the contested passages and securing damages for charity.
