The prince has written about a shocking alleged altercation between him and William. Photo / AP
The prince has written about a shocking alleged altercation between him and William. Photo / AP
Prince Harry’s highly anticipated memoir Spare will detail a shocking physical attack on him by his brother Prince William.
In a new report from The Guardian - published after obtaining an advanced copy of the memoir – it is claimed the Duke of Sussex recalls a fight he had with his brother that quickly turned physical.
Describing a confrontation the brothers had in 2019, at Harry’s London home, the youngest of the brothers claimed William called Meghan “difficult, rude and abrasive” before the fight became more heated.
The news outlet reported the duke went on to write that the Prince of Wales, “grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and … knocked me to the floor”. Harry claimed the attack left him with visible injuries to his back.
Continuing to explain the events leading up to the alleged physical attack, Harry wrote that his brother came and saw him with the intention of discussing “the whole rolling catastrophe” of their relationship and struggles with the UK press. However when William arrived, he was “piping hot”.
The alleged altercation occurred at Nottingham Cottage with Harry claiming William was unable to be rational about Harry and Meghan’s struggles and it resulted in the pair shouting at each other.
The former "Fab Four" reunited for the first time in almost two years during the Queen's funeral last year. Photo / AP
Harry reportedly wrote he and William – the heir to the throne – could not see eye to eye because the Prince of Wales was unable to understand why Harry was not content as a “spare”.
The now California-based royal said in the book that the two were hurling insults at each other before William said he wanted to help Harry. Harry then gave his brother a glass of water and told William, “Are you serious? Help me? Sorry – is that what you call this? Helping me?”
The news outlet reported Harry then wrote, “He 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.”
Harry said his brother tried to provoke him to fight back but he refused which caused William to leave “looking regretful, and apologised” before telling him that Meghan didn’t need to know about the situation.
The younger prince reportedly said, “You mean that you attacked me?” to which William said, “I didn’t attack you, Harold”.
The brothers have had a fractured relationship since Harry resigned from royal duties in 2020. Photo / AP
Harry said he didn’t tell Meghan at first – opting to call his therapist instead - but finally did tell her when she noticed scratches on his back. She “wasn’t that surprised, and wasn’t all that angry. She was terribly sad,” he said.
Spare, the title of the prince’s new book, comes from an old saying in royal and aristocratic circles where the first son inherits titles, power and fortune while the second son is a spare and will only receive them if something happens to the first born.
The theme of the book reportedly follows Harry’s resentment at being the “spare” with the prince writing on how it impacted his childhood, schooling, career as a royal and in the British army.
He also details his relationship with his parents and brother and his life with Meghan through their courtship, wedding and marriage to their own experience of parenthood.
The alleged attack is reportedly one of many bombshell claims that will be included in the tell-all memoir due to be released next week and comes amid news the young prince will feature in two interviews this weekend, with ITV’s News at Ten and CBS’ 60 Minutes.
