LONDON/MADRID, Jan 5 (Reuters) – Britain’s Prince Harry said he was devastated by his brother and likely heir Prince William during an altercation over Prince Harry’s American wife, Meghan Markle, in 2019.
The altercation between the brothers, sons of King Charles, is detailed in Harry’s book Spare, due out January 10, but copies have been obtained by Reuters and other media outlets.
Details about his content were also revealed when ITV released a clip of an upcoming interview with Harry.
In the book, Harry says his 2019 brawl with William took place at Harry’s house in London. William called Meghan “difficult”, “disrespectful” and “obnoxious”, but Harry said it sounded like a “press story” about his wife.
“He grabbed me by the collar, broke the chain and threw me to the ground,” Harry wrote.
William asked his brother to fight back, but Harry refused. William later returned to the scene and he “appeared remorseful and apologetic,” Harry wrote.
William and Harry were once very close after his mother, Princess Diana, died in a car accident in Paris in 1997. However, the brothers have been on bad terms ever since Harry married former actress Meghan in 2018, after which the couple resigned from their royal duties and moved to California two years later.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have denounced the Windsor family and the British monarchy, including allegations of racism that William himself denied.
Her six-part Netflix documentary, which drew record-breaking viewership last month, comes amid new allegations, including William yelling at Harry to talk about his future during his summit in Crisis.
Harry and Meghan’s main criticism is not only the royal aides’ refusal to fight back against hostile and inaccurate reporting, but also their willingness to spread negative stories to protect other royals, especially William. I took part in it.
Harry said in an ITV clip on Thursday, “I don’t know how silence can make things better.
Asked why he was invading the privacy of his family, something he had railed against, he replied:
“That will be the accusation from the people that don’t understand or don’t want to believe that my family have been briefing the press.”
The title of his book “Spare” comes from an oft-cited quote in British aristocratic circles about the need for an heir, and a spare.
According to extracts reported by the Guardian newspaper, the first publication to obtain a copy, King Charles reputedly said to Diana on the day Harry was born:
“Wonderful! Now you’ve given me an heir and a spare – my work is done.”
The book also recounts “intensely private scenes and conversations”, the Guardian said, such as describing his memories and love of his mother, who was killed in a 1997 car crash, and grandmother Queen Elizabeth, who died last year at age 96.
Charles himself is still hoping for a reconciliation with his son, unnamed sources told newspapers this week.
In its leaked extracts, the Guardian says the king had stood between his two sons during a difficult meeting at Windsor Castle following the April 2021 funeral for their grandfather Prince Philip, the late queen’s husband.
“Please, boys,” Harry quoted his father as saying. “Don’t make my final years a misery.”
