Piers Morgan is taking legal action against Earl Charles Spencer and publisher Penguin over what the broadcaster describes as demonstrable lies in the new memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, according to announcements made on X and his panel show Piers Morgan Uncensored. The dispute centers on passages linking Morgan to 1993 gym photographs of Princess Diana and describing him as snarling with annoyance during 1997 funeral coordination calls.
Disputed Claims Over 1993 Gym Photographs and 1997 Funeral Calls
In his memoir, Earl Charles Spencer claims that Morgan was connected to the publication of photographs showing Princess Diana exercising at a gym in November 1993. Morgan rejected the timeline on his show, pointing out that the pictures were published by the Sunday Mirror while he was writing a showbiz column for a rival publication, The Sun. Morgan did not join the Daily Mirror until October 1995.
https://x.com/piersmorgan/status/2102100900063912040
Spencer’s book also alleges that Morgan was the only newspaper editor to react with overt hostility when telephoned in 1997 and asked not to attend Diana’s funeral. According to Newsweek’s coverage of the memoir, Spencer writes that Morgan “snarled with annoyance before he hung up.” Morgan dismissed the account as entirely false, telling viewers that while he does not claim to be a journalistic angel, Spencer is entirely wrong on this account. Morgan stated he wants the disputed passages removed from the book and a donation made to the King’s Trust.
Broader Memoir Controversies Surrounding King Charles
The legal threat arrives amid intense public scrutiny over other claims in Spencer’s memoir concerning King Charles following Diana’s death in a Paris car crash on August 31, 1997. Spencer alleges that the then-Prince of Wales sounded giddily elated during a phone call shortly after the fatal crash, comparing his tone to a lottery winner. Furthermore, Spencer claims Charles told him during a heated argument about the funeral procession that “we’ll forget her soon enough.”
Buckingham Palace issued a statement responding to the claims, noting that the King is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment, and colour memory over many years. Defending his account in a BBC interview, Spencer insisted he was telling the truth and remembered the exact words. Dame Julia Cleverdon, a longtime associate of Charles who has known him for 40 years, disputed Spencer’s characterization on BBC Radio 4, stating the remarks do not reflect the language or behavior of the King she knows.
Media Scrutiny and Public Backlash
Spencer recently told the BBC that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s treatment by sections of the press bore echoes of the cancerous influence media coverage had on Diana’s life. Morgan hit back on social media, accusing Spencer of severe hypocrisy for condemning the media’s treatment of Harry and Meghan while simultaneously publishing a book that treats King Charles in a similarly damaging manner.
Did you know? Earl Charles Spencer’s memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is published by Penguin Random House and focuses extensively on the media scrutiny surrounding Princess Diana’s life and death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Piers Morgan taking legal action against Earl Spencer?
According to announcements on X and Piers Morgan Uncensored, Morgan is instructing solicitors to contact publisher Penguin over demonstrable lies in Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, specifically regarding a 1993 newspaper scoop and a 1997 funeral phone call.
What did Earl Spencer claim about King Charles in his memoir?
Spencer alleges that King Charles sounded giddily elated during a phone call after Diana’s death and told him “we’ll forget her soon enough” during an argument about whether Princes William and Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin.
How has Buckingham Palace responded to the memoir claims?
Buckingham Palace stated that the King is mindful that the pain of grief can cloud reason and affect judgment and memory even many years after such a loss.
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