Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Piers Morgan Pursues Legal Action Over Diana Book Error
Charles Spencer wrote a book about his sister, Princess Diana.
The book said Piers Morgan published some intrusive photographs of Diana.
Morgan says this is wrong because the pictures appeared before he worked at The Daily Mirror.
Spencer has apologised for the mistake, but Morgan says he will still take legal action.
Morgan wants the book removed from sale and remaining copies destroyed.
He also wants money paid to the King’s Trust.
The book includes another disputed story about something King Charles allegedly said after Diana died.
Buckingham Palace said grief can sometimes affect memory and judgment.
Piers Morgan says he will continue legal action against Earl Spencer despite Spencer apologising for an error in his memoir.
Morgan disputes Spencer’s claim that he published intrusive photographs of Princess Diana while editing The Daily Mirror.
Morgan says the photographs appeared in The Sunday Mirror on November 7, 1993, before he joined The Daily Mirror in October 1995.
Morgan has instructed lawyers to contact Spencer and Penguin and wants the book withdrawn, remaining copies pulped, and damages paid to the King’s Trust.
Spencer’s memoir also recounts an alleged 1997 remark by King Charles about Diana, while Buckingham Palace cited grief’s possible effects on memory and judgment.
- Who
- Piers Morgan, Charles Spencer, Princess Diana, King Charles III, Penguin, and the King’s Trust.
- What
- Morgan is pursuing legal action over a disputed claim in Spencer’s memoir that he published intrusive photographs of Diana.
- When
- Morgan announced his legal action on September 21, 2026; the photographs were dated November 7, 1993, according to Morgan.
- Where
- The disputed claim appears in Spencer’s memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister; the photographs were published by The Sunday Mirror, according to Morgan.
- Why
- Morgan says the claim is inaccurate and damaging because he had not joined The Daily Mirror when the photographs appeared.
Morgan’s account
Spencer’s published account
Publication of the photographs
Morgan’s account
Morgan says he could not have published the photographs because they appeared in The Sunday Mirror in 1993, before he joined The Daily Mirror in 1995.
Spencer’s published account
Spencer’s memoir attributed publication of the photographs to Morgan; the article says Spencer later apologised for an error.
Impact of the claim
Morgan’s account
Morgan calls the statement a fabricated or defamatory inaccuracy that damages his credibility and says he will pursue legal action.
Spencer’s published account
Spencer’s book presented the claim in its published account, but the articles do not provide a detailed response from Spencer beyond the reported apology.
Proposed resolution
Morgan’s account
Morgan wants the memoir withdrawn, remaining copies destroyed, and damages paid to the King’s Trust.
Spencer’s published account
Penguin had been contacted for comment, but the articles do not state that the publisher agreed to Morgan’s demands.
Account of King Charles’s remarks
Morgan’s account
The account is challenged indirectly by Buckingham Palace, which said grief may affect memory and judgment.
Spencer’s published account
Spencer wrote that King Charles told him in 1997 that Diana would soon be forgotten.
- Book
- Swan Song: Diana, My Sister by Charles Spencer.
- Disputed claim
- Spencer’s memoir attributed publication of intrusive photographs of Diana to Piers Morgan while he was editing The Daily Mirror.
- Morgan’s timeline
- Morgan says the photographs appeared on November 7, 1993, while he joined The Daily Mirror in October 1995.
- Legal demands
- Morgan wants the book withdrawn, remaining copies pulped, and damages paid to the King’s Trust.
- Publisher
- Penguin, also identified as Penguin Michael Joseph, published the memoir.
- Additional disputed account
- Spencer wrote that King Charles allegedly said Diana would soon be forgotten after her death.
- Palace response
- Buckingham Palace said grief can cloud reason, affect judgment, and influence memory.
