Piers Morgan has continued with plans for legal action against Earl Spencer despite receiving an apology over a factual error in Spencer’s new memoir about his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales.

The dispute centres on a passage in Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which suggested that Morgan was responsible for the publication of intrusive photographs of Diana at a gym in 1993.

Morgan has strongly disputed the claim, pointing out that he was working for The Sun at the time and did not become editor of the Daily Mirror until 1995.

Although Spencer has acknowledged the mistake and apologised, Morgan is demanding that the offending material be removed and has called for the first edition of the book to be withdrawn.

Earl Spencer Admits He Got the Date Wrong

The controversy erupted shortly after Swan Song: Diana, My Sister was released.

In the book, Spencer recalled contacting newspaper editors to tell them they were not welcome at Diana’s funeral. He described Morgan as being “surly” and claimed his reaction was connected to the publication of photographs of Diana taken at a gym using a hidden camera.

However, Morgan said the account contained a basic factual error because the photographs were published by the Sunday Mirror on November 7, 1993, while he did not join the Daily Mirror until October 1995.

Spencer subsequently issued an apology.

A statement on his behalf 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.”

Morgan Says the Apology Is Not Enough

Despite the apology, Morgan has said he will continue pursuing legal action.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Morgan said he had instructed his lawyers to send a legal letter to both Spencer and the book’s publisher, Penguin.

“The mere fact he has so speedily issued an apology should say it all…” Morgan said.

He then called on Spencer to remove the disputed material immediately.

“You’re a self proclaimed historian – remove it immediately. And if that means you have to pulp your book, well that’s on you.”

Morgan has also said publicly that he wants the disputed claims removed and is seeking damages to be paid to The King’s Trust.

Morgan Disputes Spencer’s Description of Their Conversation

The dispute extends beyond the date of the photographs.

While Spencer has accepted that his assumption about Morgan’s position at the Daily Mirror was incorrect, his statement maintains that Morgan was “surly and annoyed” when Spencer contacted him about Diana’s funeral.

Morgan disputes that characterization as well.

In an interview with ITV News, he said:

“I’m spitting blood about this. I mean, he’s made an egregious defamatory series of claims about me which had nothing to do with me. And all right, He’s apologised, he’s admitted that he was wrong, but that’s not enough, I’m sorry.”

Morgan also said he had instructed the legal firm Shillings to contact Spencer and Penguin, demanding that the disputed claims be withdrawn.

Future Editions Expected to Be Corrected

The dispute has already resulted in plans to amend future versions of Spencer’s memoir.

Reports say the electronic edition and future printed editions will be updated to remove or correct the inaccurate suggestion concerning Morgan’s role at the Daily Mirror.

However, Spencer does not currently plan to withdraw the first edition from sale.

He has maintained that while he made an incorrect assumption about Morgan’s position in 1993, his recollection of Morgan’s reaction during their telephone conversation remains accurate.

Controversy Surrounding Spencer’s Memoir

The disagreement with Morgan is only one part of the controversy surrounding Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.

The memoir contains Spencer’s recollections of his relationship with Diana and claims concerning the aftermath of her death in 1997.

Among the book’s most controversial claims is Spencer’s account of a conversation with King Charles following Diana’s death. Spencer has alleged that the King told him, “we’ll forget her soon enough.”

Buckingham Palace has not directly addressed the book’s individual claims but previously issued a statement noting that grief can affect memory and judgment.

Legal Dispute Could Continue

For now, Morgan’s legal threat remains active despite Spencer’s apology.

Morgan has argued that correcting future editions does not adequately address copies of the first edition already published and distributed.

The broadcaster has therefore called for the disputed pages to be removed from the existing edition, even suggesting that the books could need to be “pulped” if that is necessary to remove the material from circulation.

Spencer, meanwhile, has acknowledged the factual error and said it will be corrected in subsequent versions while standing by his recollection of his conversation with Morgan.

The disagreement now appears set to move beyond a public dispute and into the legal process, with Morgan’s lawyers expected to pursue the matter against both Spencer and Penguin.