The release of Prince Harry’s tell-all book, Spare, has led to the leakage of excerpts that shed light on the tumultuous relationship between the Duke of Sussex and his family, particularly his brother William. One of the most shocking claims is that William physically attacked Harry at Nottingham Cottage, where Harry lived with his then-girlfriend, Meghan. According to Harry, William called him another name, grabbed him by the collar, and knocked him to the floor, leaving him with scrapes and bruises. When Harry told William to leave, Harry writes that his brother apologized and seemed regretful.
The alleged incident is said to have occurred when Meghan was not present, and William reportedly referred to her as “difficult”, “rude”, and “abrasive”. Harry told his therapist about the fight before sharing it with Meghan, who was devastated by the news of her husband’s scrapes.
The book also reveals that Harry and William would often have physical fights as children, with Harry urging his brother to hit back during a particular altercation. William, however, refused to engage in a physical confrontation and instead left the scene before returning to apologize.
The two brothers reportedly have a nickname for each other, with Harry referring to William as “Willy” and William addressing Harry as “Harold”. In another incident, Harry writes that he told his brother to leave, stating, “Willy, I can’t speak to you when you’re like this,” to which William responded, “I didn’t attack you, Harold.”
Prince Harry (Via Prince Harry/Twitter)
The book also touches on the strained relationship between Harry and his father, Charles, who allegedly expressed his delight when Diana gave birth to Harry, whom he referred to as an “heir and a spare”. Charles’s words are said to have been uttered at a time when Harry was still a young boy, and they reportedly left him feeling insecure and anxious.
Furthermore, Harry claims that he asked his brother and sister-in-law, Kate, whether he should wear a pilot’s uniform or a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party in 2005, and that they encouraged him to choose the latter, laughing when he tried it on for them. This revelation has sparked outrage and controversy.
In addition to the incidents described above, the book reveals that Meghan upset Kate by commenting on her post-pregnancy brain fog during a phone call prior to their wedding in 2018. Harry claims that Kate was visibly upset by the remark, leading William to rebuke Meghan for her comment.
Perhaps one of the most poignant revelations in the book is the account of Harry learning about his mother’s death. According to Harry, Charles sat on his bed at Balmoral Castle and broke the news, telling him, “My dear son, mum has had a car accident.” Harry claims that his father did not hug him during this moment and that he later felt like a politician as he greeted members of the public in the wake of Diana’s passing.
The revelations in Prince Harry’s book have sparked widespread debate and controversy, shedding light on the complex and often tumultuous relationships within the British royal family. As the world awaits the official publication of Spare, the leaked excerpts have offered a Look into the difficulties faced by the Duke of Sussex and his family.
