Earl Spencer has apologised to Piers Morgan for making “incorrect” claims in his new book.
Morgan has threatened legal action against Earl Spencer over what he describes as “fabricated inaccuracies” and “brazen falsity” in Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which has been serialised by the Mail.
In the book, Spencer claims Morgan “snarled with annoyance” after being told he was not invited to Diana’s funeral.
The allegation forms part of Spencer’s account of his decision to withdraw invitations from all national newspaper editors. Morgan was editor of the Mirror at the time.
Spencer also wrote that he “assumed Morgan must be feeling particular guilt” because, four years earlier, Morgan and his Sunday Mirror counterpart had published photographs of Diana allegedly taken using hidden cameras.
However, the images, which showed Diana exercising in a leotard at a gym, appeared in the Sunday Mirror in 1993, when Morgan was still working for The Sun. He became editor of the Mirror in 1995.
On his YouTube programme Piers Morgan Uncensored, Morgan read the relevant passage from the book: “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 then told viewers that the book contained “fabricated inaccuracies” that would seriously damage Spencer’s credibility.
Piers Morgan has threatened to sue Earl Spencer over alleged “fabricated inaccuracies” in his new book
Charles Spencer’s book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister has been serialised by the Mail
“Well, this is all pretty extraordinary stuff, isn’t it? And very damning, particularly about me,” Morgan said.
“I come across in the most despicable manner imaginable. There’s just one problem. It’s all bullshit and very, very easy bullshit for me to prove.”
Addressing the earl directly, Morgan added: “You’ll be hearing, and your publishers, from my 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 also called for a donation to be made to the King’s Trust as compensation for the damage he said the alleged lie had caused.
Morgan has since intensified his criticism, saying the book should be “pulped”.
Spencer apologised for the error on Tuesday but maintained that Morgan had been “surly and annoyed” when he personally called to say the journalist was not welcome at Diana’s funeral.
A statement said: “Earl Spencer’s account of his conversation with Piers Morgan is accurate.
“Mr Morgan was surly and annoyed when Earl Spencer called personally to tell him that he was not welcome at his sister’s funeral.
“The book then records Earl Spencer’s assumption that Mr Morgan’s response was because he was editor of the Daily Mirror when the Mirror Group had published highly intrusive photographs of Princess Diana at the gym.”
‘The photographs were published by the Sunday Mirror on November 7 1993. Mr Morgan has pointed out that he did not join the Daily Mirror until October 1995.
‘As an historian, accuracy is important to Earl Spencer. He therefore wishes to clarify that his assumption was incorrect. Earl Spencer apologises to Mr Morgan for this error.’
Earl Spencer’s book, pictured being sold for half price in a London bookshop, was releasedon Tuesday
Morgan later repeated his threat of legal action, writing on social media: ‘Earl Spencer has apologised to me for his defamatory lies published in his new book, Swan Song.
‘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 had also accused the earl of ‘using the Harry and Meghan playbook’ of ‘putting their truth before the truth’, continuing: ‘I expect there will be many more examples of brazen falsity after what I’ve uncovered.’
He referred to other claims in the book, including that the King told Spencer ‘we’ll forget [Diana] soon enough’ and sounded ‘giddily elated’ in the wake of the crash which killed her.
He said: ‘Many allies of His Majesty have called into question these facts, ever since the most salacious accusations were serialised by Our News Outlet.
‘Many royal commentators and experts have lined up to say that they simply don’t ring true. The King himself issued a furious rebuke that is almost without precedent.’
The earl has stood by his account of the King’s alleged comments.
