Earl Spencer apologises to Piers Morgan over Diana book error, but legal threat remains
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Neutral summary
Earl Spencer has issued a formal apology to broadcaster Piers Morgan after his new memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, contained a factual error about Morgan's role in the publication of covertly taken photographs of Princess Diana exercising in a leotard at a gym in 1993. Spencer's book suggested Morgan bore editorial responsibility for the images, but Morgan was working as a showbiz columnist at The Sun at the time, and did not become editor of the Daily Mirror until October 1995, GB News reports. The photographs appeared in the Sunday Mirror on 7 November 1993. Morgan branded the passages "fabricated inaccuracies" and "examples of brazen falsity", and threatened legal action against Spencer and his publisher. A spokesperson for Earl Spencer confirmed the apology, and The Times reported that Spencer agreed to edit future editions of the book, describing the error as an "incorrect assumption". Morgan, however, told GB News that the apology was not enough, saying he would press on through legal channels and demanding the memoir be "pulped" and removed from shop shelves. The book also contains striking allegations against King Charles, including a claim that he said "we'll forget her soon enough" after Diana's death, which prompted a rare statement from Buckingham Palace warning that "the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory".
How it was framed
Outlets: 10. Countries: 4. Facts in the shared core: 2.
Publication timeline
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Why Piers Morgan has criticised Earl Spencer ahead of new memoir release
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Newsweek (outlet profile)
Piers Morgan Taking Legal Action Over Claims From Princess Diana's Brother. Piers Morgan has threatened legal action over claims made about him by Earl Spencer in his new memoir about Princess Diana.
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TheJournal.ie (outlet profile)
Piers Morgan says he plans to sue Princess Diana’s brother over new book. Morgan has disputed an account of his involvement in the publication of photographs of Diana and said he wants the passage removed.
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Evening Standard (outlet profile)
Piers Morgan says he'll sue Earl Spencer over 'lies' in book as Swan Song: Diana, My Sister hits shelves. Piers Morgan says he’s taking legal action against Earl Spencer as Swan Song: Diana, My Sister hits books shelves
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Evening Standard (outlet profile)
Piers Morgan threatens to sue Earl Spencer over book’s ‘fabricated inaccuracies’. Swan Song: Diana, My Sister contains allegations about the broadcaster.
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Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)
Piers Morgan threatens to sue Earl Spencer over book’s ‘fabricated inaccuracies’
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Piers Morgan is suing Earl Spencer over ‘demonstrable lies’ in Princess Diana book. Broadcaster is demanding ‘fabricated inaccuracies’ be removed from book, which is out now
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Piers Morgan announces legal action over ‘fabricated inaccuracies’ in Earl Spencer’s book
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Forbes (outlet profile)
Piers Morgan Says He'll Sue Princess Diana's Brother Over 'Brazen' Lies In New Book. Earl Spencer's new book about Princess Diana has made several inflammatory claims and drew a rare statement from Buckingham Palace.
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GB News (outlet profile)
Earl Spencer issues apology to Piers Morgan for huge error in his bombshell book after legal threat. Earl Spencer has issued a formal apology to Piers Morgan after conceding he made a mistake in his explosive memoir abo…
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Guido Fawkes (outlet profile)
Earl Spencer Apologises to Piers Morgan Over Princess Diana Book ‘Mistake’. Earl Spencer has issued a formal apology to Piers Morgan after incorrectly claiming in his new book (released today, for those keen on a pre-re…
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Evening Standard (outlet profile)
Earl Spencer apologises over Diana book error but Piers Morgan still vows to sue. Diana’s brother Charles Spencer said, as a historian, ‘accuracy was important to him’ and apologised to the broadcaster.
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Piers Morgan vows to sue Earl Spencer despite receiving an apology
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TheJournal.ie (outlet profile)
Princess Diana's brother apologises over book error but Piers Morgan still vows to sue. Spencer suggested Morgan was responsible for publishing photographs of Diana, taken with hidden cameras, in the Daily Mirror, but M…
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Daily Mail (outlet profile)
Earl Spencer apologises to Piers Morgan over 'incorrect' statements in his new book. Morgan has threatened to sue Earl Spencer over 'fabricated inaccuracies' and 'examples of brazen falsity' in Swan Song: Diana, My Sist…
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GB News (outlet profile)
Piers Morgan launches furious tirade on 'disgusting' Earl Spencer after publishing 'defamatory lies' in new memoir: 'Apology is not enough!'. Piers Morgan has launched a blistering attack on Earl Spencer's "disgusting l…
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GB News (outlet profile)
Piers Morgan 'right to consider legal action' after Earl Spencer apologises for 'incorrect assumption'. Piers Morgan is "absolutely right" to threaten legal action against Earl Charles Spencer following "factual inaccur…
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GB News (outlet profile)
Earl Spencer 'to publish edited version of memoir' following Piers Morgan error. Earl Spencer will publish edited versions of his new memoir following threats of legal action from Piers Morgan over "fabricated inaccurac…
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Sydney Morning Herald (outlet profile)
Earl Spencer’s apology isn’t enough, says Piers Morgan. The British broadcaster says he will pursue legal action against the earl and his publisher over a factual error in a new book about Princess Diana.
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Earl Spencer ‘to edit’ Princess Diana book after Piers Morgan legal threat. Piers Morgan vowed to ‘have the lies removed, and damages paid to the King’s Trust’
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Earl Spencer to ‘edit’ bombshell Diana memoir amid Piers Morgan legal threat
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Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)
Royals ‘spitting blood’ over Earl Spencer’s claims in book, says Piers Morgan
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Evening Standard (outlet profile)
Royals ‘spitting blood’ over Earl Spencer’s claims in book, says Piers Morgan. Charles Spencer made a raft of claims in Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, including that the King said ‘we’ll forget her soon enough’ after she…
Factual core
- Piers Morgan threatened legal action over claims made by Earl Spencer in his memoir about Princess Diana.
- Earl Spencer issued a formal apology to Piers Morgan for incorrectly claiming in his new book that Morgan was Editor of the Mirror when the paper published private photographs of Princess Diana in 1993.