Prince Harry's memoir Spare left Prince William feeling 'mortified' over 'betrayal of secrets'
Harry released his tell-all book in early 2023Prince Harry sent shockwaves through the palace with his tell-all memoir, Spare, as the book detailed his relationship with brother, Prince William.
In the book, Harry made an allegation that his older brother physically attacked him during an argument in 2019. In Spare, Harry wrote that he and William argued over Meghan Markle, who Harry had married the previous year.
Harry alleged that the Prince of Wales called Meghan “difficult”, “rude” and “abrasive”. He then wrote: “[William] set down the water, called me another name, then came at me. It all happened so fast. So very fast. He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor.
“I landed on the dog’s bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out.”
How Prince William ‘reacted’ to Harry’s memoir Spare
Harry wrote that William later left, “looking regretful, and apologised”.
Prince William hasn’t commented on the claims publicly.
Elsewhere in the book, Harry addressed his Nazi costume controversy. In 2005, Harry wore a Nazi uniform as a costume at a fancy dress party. In his book, he admitted it was “one of the biggest mistakes of my life”.
But he also claimed that Prince William and his wife Princess Kate encouraged him to wear the costume.
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In his book Charles III, author Robert Hardman claimed that William couldn’t bring himself to read Harry’s book.
A source allegedly told Hardman, as reported by the MailOnline: “His staff remain adamant that he and the Princess [of Wales] refused to open a book which has caused so much pain.”
Hardman also quotes a source claiming that William felt “mortified by Harry’s casual betrayal of so many fraternal secrets”.
The author also wrote that a senior advisor had told him that William was briefed about the book’s “key points”.
Hardman said he was told that William acted “admirably grown-up” about the book.
Royal Insider has contacted reps for Prince William for comment.
Since quitting senior royal duties in 2020, as well as in Spare, Prince Harry has spoken about his family in a string of interviews.
He and wife Meghan spoke to Oprah Winfrey in 2021 about their experience within the monarchy. They made damning allegations about the royals and the institution, sending shockwaves through the palace.
‘I don’t believe that I aired my dirty laundry’
As expected, Harry received backlash over his memoir.
I don’t believe that I aired my dirty laundry in public.
But in an interview with The Guardian last September, Harry defended his decision to spill so much in the book.
Read more: Prince Harry’s ‘desperate desire’ to ‘fulfil a dream’ with King Charles at Invictus Games
He said: “I know that [speaking out] annoys some people and it goes against the narrative. The book? It was a series of corrections to stories already out there. One point of view had been put out and it needed to be corrected.
“I don’t believe that I aired my dirty laundry in public. It was a difficult message, but I did it in the best way possible. My conscience is clear.”
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