Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare,” published a year ago on January 10, 2023, shed light on a pivotal moment that marked the deterioration of his relationship with his brother, Prince William. In the book’s final chapter, Harry recounts a heated exchange with William and their father, King Charles, following Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021.
The emotional confrontation centered around Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step back from their royal duties. According to Harry, William shockingly invoked their “secret code” connected to their late mother, Princess Diana, who tragically passed away in 1997 at the age of 36.
Harry writes, “‘Harold, you must listen to me! I just want you to be happy, Harold. I swear… I swear on Mummy’s life.'” This poignant moment highlights the depth of the rift between the brothers and the emotional turmoil surrounding Harry’s departure from the royal family.
In his memoir “Spare,” Prince Harry reveals a poignant moment he shared with his father, King Charles III, and brother, Prince William, hours after Prince Philip’s funeral. The trio was walking around Frogmore Gardens when Charles uttered a secret code, a “universal password” they had established since childhood. Harry explains that this three-word phrase was reserved for “times of extreme crisis” when one of them needed to be heard and believed urgently. For nearly 25 years, they had preserved this “soul-crushing vow” for situations where nothing else would suffice, indicating the gravity of the matter at hand. This anecdote provides insight into the unique bond and communication methods within the royal family, underscoring the significance of this particular exchange in the aftermath of Prince Philip’s funeral.
In his memoir “Spare,” Prince Harry provides an insightful and candid account of his life experiences, including his strained relationship with his brother, Prince William. One poignant moment he describes is when William used the phrase “stopped me cold,” which Harry found unconvincing due to the deep-rooted hurt and mistrust between them. Despite the emotional weight of those words, Harry reveals that they were unable to bridge the gap and heal the rift, as both brothers recognized the profound level of pain and doubt that had taken hold.
The book delves into Harry’s childhood in the public eye, his military career, and his love story with Meghan Markle. “Spare” quickly became a bestseller, and Amazon recently named it the “Most Sold” book of 2023. One of the book’s most significant revelations was Harry’s allegation that William physically attacked him in 2019 during an argument in which William insulted Meghan.
Through his memoir, Prince Harry offers an informative and personal perspective on his life journey, shedding light on the challenges and complexities of navigating the royal family dynamics.
The release of Prince Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” has garnered significant attention and sparked discussions about the royal family’s dynamics. In an interview with PEOPLE magazine prior to the book’s launch, Prince Harry refrained from speculating on how his family would perceive the revelations within its pages. He stated, “I don’t want to tell anyone what to think of it and that includes my family. This book and its truths are in many ways a continuation of my own mental health journey. It’s a raw account of my life — the good, the bad and everything in between.”
Following the publication of “Spare” in January, Prince Harry attended the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in May as a solo guest. Notably, he and his brother, Prince William, did not interact publicly during the event. The brothers were seated separately during the church service, where King Charles was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Prince William, as the Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, symbolically paid homage.
The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, departed London shortly after the service to return to California, where his wife Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet reside. Notably, they celebrated Archie’s 4th birthday during this period. In June, Prince Harry made a significant trip back to London to provide historic testimony against Mirror Group Newspapers regarding allegations of phone hacking and other unlawful activities. His perseverance paid off when he emerged victorious in the litigation in December 2023, describing the judge’s decision as “vindicating and affirming” his stance.