Piers Morgan Denies Leaking Diana's Secret Gym Photos, Threatens To Sue Earl Spencer Over 'Lies'
Piers Morgan strongly denies Earl Spencer's claims about Princess Diana's secret gym photos and funeral snub. He is threatening legal action against Spencer and his publisher.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GooglePiers Morgan has threatened legal action against Princess Diana's younger brother, Earl Charles Spencer, over claims in his new memoir that the broadcaster says are factually wrong. The veteran journalist has accused Spencer of publishing "demonstrable lies" in his memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which is being released on September 22, 2026.
Morgan is disputing claims about his reaction to Diana's 1997 funeral and his alleged connection to the publication of secret photographs of the late princess. This adds another twist to the controversy surrounding Spencer's memoir, which has already prompted a rare response from Buckingham Palace itself over Spencer's certain claims about King Charles.
Why is Piers Morgan threatening to sue Earl Spencer?
In his new book, Earl Spencer recalls personally calling newspaper editors ahead of Diana's funeral at Westminster Abbey in 1997, asking them not to attend because of the intense press scrutiny his sister had endured for most of her life. Spencer wrote that most editors were confused but agreed to stay away after the sudden snub.
However, Morgan, who was then an editor of the Daily Mirror, allegedly reacted differently. Spencer wrote, according to an excerpt published by The Independent:
"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, in turn, has outright rejected the account, calling it all a "demonstrable lie." Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, the British broadcaster openly criticized the earl's credibility as a historian and threatened legal action against him and his memoir's publisher, Penguin Random House. Morgan wrote in his brief yet scathing note:
"I am taking legal action against Earl Spencer and his publishers over demonstrable lies he has written about me in his new book, which call into question his credibility as a supposed ‘historian.' Full details to follow on tonight's Piers Uncensored."
Later, on Piers Morgan Uncensored, he went on to question Spencer's credibility, showing excerpts from his book and arguing that the disputed claims contained basic factual errors. Morgan said it was all "very, very easy bullshit for me to prove it." He added that he wanted the passage removed from the book and a donation made to the King's Trust. He also said he was instructing solicitors to contact the publisher, Penguin.
What did Earl Spencer claim about Diana's secret gym Photo leaks?
Another point of contention reportedly involves some photographs of Diana exercising at a gym in 1993. Spencer's memoir reportedly links Morgan and his Sunday Mirror counterpart to the publication of photographs taken without permission using hidden cameras. Diana had later pursued legal action over the leaked photos.
Morgan has strongly disputed any involvement in the alleged leak, as he pointed to the timeline of his career. The photographs were published by the Sunday Mirror in November 1993. But Morgan said he did not join the Daily Mirror until October 1995. He said:
"In fact, at the time of the gym pictures, I was doing a showbiz column on the Mirror's arch rival, The Sun, about as far removed from responsibility for the Mirror scoop as I could possibly have been."
Morgan added that he was not claiming to be a "journalistic angel," but insisted that Spencer was "100% wrong" about his role in the publication. The disagreement centers on Spencer's account and Morgan's denial. The supplied reports do not establish that Morgan was responsible for the photographs.
King Charles also responds to Earl Spencer's Diana memoir
Morgan is not the only person whose name has become part of the controversy surrounding Spencer's new book. His claims about King Charles' reaction to Diana's death have also drawn a response from Buckingham Palace.
In the book, Spencer recalls a phone call with Charles shortly after Diana died in a Paris car crash on August 31, 1997. Spencer alleges that Charles said, "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough!" He also describes the then-Prince of Wales as sounding "giddily elated” during a conversation following Diana's death.
Buckingham Palace said it did not comment on books as a matter of principle, but added that the king was "mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory in ways others do not recognize.”
Spencer has defended his recollection in interviews, saying he remembers Charles' words precisely. His book has also prompted debate over Spencer's criticism of the press's treatment of Diana's younger son, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle. He also criticized Morgan's alleged hypocrisy for criticizing media coverage while publishing allegations about Charles during the king's cancer treatment.
Amid the Royal Family's objections and now Morgan's, what are your thoughts on the claims against Charles Spencer's new book?
Image courtesy: Piers Morgan/X
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