Piers Morgan has announced plans for legal action over statements made about him in Earl Charles Spencer’s upcoming memoir on Princess Diana. Spencer, who is Diana’s younger brother, claims in Swan Song: Diana, My Sister that Morgan was notably irritated when asked not to attend the princess’s funeral.
In a section of the memoir, Spencer recounts how he personally called newspaper editors to request their absence from the service at Westminster Abbey. This request followed years of intense media scrutiny of Diana. According to Spencer, most editors seemed confused but agreed to comply. However, Spencer notes that Morgan, then the editor at the Daily Mirror, reacted negatively. The excerpt obtained by The Independent states, “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.”
Morgan has denied these claims and has labeled them as “demonstrable lies,” asserting that legal action will be taken. It remains uncertain if these specific allegations about his reaction are the primary focus of his legal claims. The book Swan Song is set to be released on Tuesday, and the full content is yet to be independently verified. Both Spencer and Morgan have been approached for comments by Newsweek.
The memoir repeatedly revisits the heavy media attention Diana faced, including being pursued by photographers and heavily covered by tabloids until her tragic death in a Paris car crash on August 31, 1997. Spencer feels these experiences deeply affected his sister.
Morgan’s current issue with Spencer spans topics such as the specific allegations about his behavior in 1997 and the broader debate regarding media treatment of Diana and the Royal Family.
Spencer’s Allegations About King Charles
Spencer’s book also accuses King Charles of reacting with unexpected exhilaration after Diana’s death. He claims that Charles, then Prince, remarked, “we’ll forget her soon enough,” amidst arguments about Diana’s sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, participating in the funeral procession.
Buckingham Palace contests Spencer’s account, highlighting that grief can distort memory and reason. Despite this, Spencer stands firm on his version of events, recalling having discussed the incident with family due to its alarming nature. Journalist Richard Kay also noted a “furious row” between Spencer and Charles during that period.
Dame Julia Cleverdon, a long-term associate of Charles, refuted Spencer’s description, asserting it contrasts with the King’s known demeanor and language.
Morgan Accuses Spencer of Inconsistency
Morgan has further accused Spencer of hypocrisy over the memoir’s claims. He states that Spencer condemns the media’s treatment of Harry and Meghan Markle while simultaneously making assertions about King Charles.
Spencer had earlier likened media influence on Harry and Meghan to Diana’s past experiences, describing it as a “cancerous influence.” Responding on social media, Morgan criticized Spencer for condemning media practices while his own book targeted King Charles similarly.
“I’ve seen some brass necks in my time but Earl Spencer slamming the ‘malign cancerous’ way the media supposedly treat Harry/Meghan, whilst simultaneously flogging his book which treats King Charles in a malign cancerous way is beyond parody,” Morgan commented.
While Morgan takes issue with the memoir, Spencer’s book has already brought about a separate dispute with Buckingham Palace. Prince Harry has declined to comment on Spencer’s memoir, maintaining his silence during an award ceremony in London.