Piers Morgan has revealed his awkward meeting with the late Prince Philip, in which the Duke of Edinburgh accused him of ‘sponging’ off Simon Cowell.
The former Good Morning Britain host was introduced to Her Majesty’s husband after the 2007 Royal Variety Show.
Recalling the encounter, Piers, 56, explained how Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts was overcome with pride at meeting the iconic monarch.
He penned in Mail on Sunday that the singer “nearly self-combusted with joy and pride” when the Queen told him: “You were very good.”
However, it didn’t take long for Philip to make a cutting tongue-in-cheek remark.
After being introduced to Piers alongside his fellow ITV panelists Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden, he asked: “You’re judges, is that right?”.
When Piers confirmed, the Duke added: “So, you lot sponge off him then?”
Piers first met the Duke back in 1998 – a year after the death of Princess Diana and the media storm that engulfed the era.
(Image: Kylie Minogue/Twitter)
After being told Morgan was press, the former newspaper editor sats High Royal Highness: “glared at me like I’d just strangled his wife’s corgis”.
Philip, who has had a strained relationship with the media at times, is reported to have said: “My God, you just can’t tell from the outside, can you?”
After working at The Sun from 1988 – 1994, Morgan went on doc come the Editor of the News of the World.
He left the role just over a year later before moving on to become the Editor of The Mirror until leaving in 2004.
Piers famously quit his lucrative position co-hosting Good Morning Britain alongside Susanna Reid amid a row over Meghan Markle.
Piers defend the Royal family after the Deal or No Deal box girl turned Duchess of Sussex accused them of racism.
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During her sit down exposé with Oprah Winfrey on CBS, Meghan claimed that ‘concerns’ had been raised about the colour her son’s skin would be.
Both she and Prince Harry refused to add any more context about the question that would ask, nor would they say who it was.
The couple only added off camera that it was neither the Duke of Edinburgh or The Queen.
As the explosive interview was broadcast around the world, the 99-year-old Duke lay in hospital in London.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
