Broadcaster Piers Morgan has taken a swipe at Earl Spencer while paying tribute to former politician and author Jeffrey Archer, who died on Monday October 5 at the age of 86.
Sharing a picture of the pair laughing together at an event on X, Morgan wrote: "RIP Jeffrey Archer. What an irrepressible, ebullient character. Sold gazillions of books, raised gazillions for charity, loved his Krug, parties, politics and cricket, survived scandal and prison, and had me laughing to the end as our last text exchange on Sunday shows."
Cheeky exchange revealed
He then shared the back and forth, which saw Archer quip: "Please don't tell them to pulp my book." Morgan responded: "Hahaha - you always get your facts right. Relax!"
The pair were referring to Morgan's demand that the first edition of Spencer's memoir Swan Song be pulped after he announced he intended to sue over mistakes in it.
Legal dispute over memoir
The book, which focuses on Spencer's late sister Princess Diana, claimed Morgan was working at the Mirror when it published "highly intrusive photographs of Princess Diana at the gym" in 1993. However, at the time, he was working for The Sun and only joined the Mirror as editor in 1995.
Though Spencer apologised for the error, with publisher Penguin stating that the point would be amended in future editions, Morgan insisted he is pursuing legal action – something Spencer later denied.
Denials and counterclaims
Spencer denied to The Times that he is being sued by Morgan, who clapped back on social media. Quoting the article, Morgan tweeted on X: "Oh really… OK, well, in light of this denial, I will now publish our legal correspondence."
Morgan later said he believed he would not be the only victim of Spencer's "complete lies". Explaining himself, he said: "I've only checked the references to me. So who knows how many other people he's done this to, right?"
He added: "We've got King Charles denying that his account of the call with him is accurate. And you've got me denying the report on the call with me is accurate. Plus, you've got the obvious lie he's admitted to. How can we believe any of this stuff?"
Palace response
The memoir also caused drama with Buckingham Palace after it alleged that the Princess's ex-husband, the then-monarch, told Spencer: "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough."
In an unprecedented move, a spokesperson for the Palace hit back with an official statement over the allegations.
"While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss," a representative said on behalf of the King.
