Brief
Earl Spencer to sue Michael Gove over Spectator podcast claim about Diana
Spencer alleges the podcast misrepresented his sister’s request to stay at Althorp after her death and demands its removal.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, announced on Thursday that he will sue former cabinet minister Michael Gove over a Spectator magazine podcast that alleged Diana asked to stay with him at Althorp in the summer of 1997.
What happened
The podcast, produced by The Spectator, featured Gove and assistant editor Madeline Grant discussing Spencer’s new memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister. The programme claimed that, in the weeks after Diana’s fatal car crash, she asked her brother if she and her sons could stay at Althorp to escape the press, and that Spencer refused, saying the paparazzi would bother his family.
What the reports add
According to the Daily Mail, Spencer’s spokesman called the claim "untrue" and said Diana never made such a request. The spokesman added that Althorp was open to the public throughout the summer months, making a private stay impossible, and that Spencer would have done "everything possible" to accommodate her had she asked.
What was said
"She never asked to stay that summer. She would not have done, as Althorp was open to the public throughout the summer months. But had she asked, he would have done everything possible to make it happen," the spokesman told the Daily Mail.
The spokesman also said, "Earl Spencer never turned his sister away. After her marriage broke down, and in line with police advice about her safety, he offered her a ..." (the quote was truncated in the source).
How it came about
The legal action follows earlier disputes involving Spencer’s memoir, which has already prompted criticism from Buckingham Palace and accusations of gaslighting King Charles. Spencer’s book has been a flashpoint for several controversies, including claims that the king made dismissive remarks about Diana’s funeral and allegations that he was "giddily elated" after her death. The current lawsuit adds another layer to the ongoing battle over the narrative surrounding Diana’s legacy.
Key facts
- Earl Spencer is suing Michael Gove over a Spectator podcast claim. (dailymail.co.uk)
- The podcast alleged Diana asked to stay at Althorp in summer 1997. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Spencer’s spokesman says the claim is untrue and that Althorp was open to the public. (dailymail.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] dailymail.co.uk — originally reported as “EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Earl Spencer 'to sue Gove over podcast Diana claim'”
