Earl Spencer apologises to Piers Morgan over factual error in Diana memoir

Earl Spencer has apologised to Piers Morgan after admitting a factual error in his new book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, saying an assumption about Morgan’s role in publishing intrusive photographs of Princess Diana was incorrect.

Spencer’s memoir had stated that Morgan was editor of the Daily Mirror when the Mirror Group published hidden-camera photographs of Diana at a gym. The book referenced images published by the Sunday Mirror on 7 November 1993, but Morgan did not join the Mirror as editor until 1995.

A spokesperson for Earl Spencer said the account of a personal call with Morgan remains accurate regarding Morgan’s tone during a conversation about attending Diana’s funeral, but acknowledged the incorrect assumption about the 1993 publication and apologised to Morgan. Penguin, the book’s publisher, will amend that point in future editions, the BBC understands.

Morgan responded on social media that he acknowledged the apology but said he was pursuing legal action against Earl Spencer and Penguin to remove the alleged inaccuracies and seek damages for the King’s Trust. On his YouTube show Piers Morgan Uncensored, Morgan read passages from the book in which Spencer described Morgan as sounding “surly” during their call and linked him to the published gym photographs.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The book contained an inaccurate claim about editorial responsibility for photographs published in 1993; Earl Spencer has issued an apology and Penguin plans to correct the text. Piers Morgan has acknowledged the apology while maintaining he will pursue legal remedies regarding other alleged inaccuracies in Swan Song. The dispute adds to broader tensions arising from other claims in the book about reactions within the royal family after Diana’s death.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• Earl Spencer apologised to Piers Morgan for an incorrect assumption about Morgan’s role in publishing gym photographs of Princess Diana.
• The photographs referenced were published by the Sunday Mirror on 7 November 1993; Morgan became Mirror editor in 1995.
• Penguin will amend the error in future editions and Morgan says he is pursuing legal action over remaining alleged inaccuracies.