Everything Prince Harry said about his 'beloved brother and archnemesis' William

14 March 2024 , 12:33

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Prince Harry spoke in depth about William in Spare (Image: Getty Images)

Prince Harry didn't hold back when it came to calling out his brother Prince William in his memoir, Spare.

The book, which was released last year and quickly became a best-seller, saw the Duke of Sussex rip into members of his estranged family, and his older sibling was in the firing line on many occasions. It was far from the first time Harry had called out William, but he piled in the details, seemingly twisting the knife further in their broken relationship.

Now, as the pair get set to honour their late mum, Princess Diana, at the Diana Legacy Award event tonight at the Science Museum in London, we look back at Harry's mentions of his once-close older brother in his book.

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Harry bared all in Spare (Getty Images)

Harry claims William and Kate were behind his Nazi costume

Harry's decision to wear a Nazi costume in 2005 stunned people around the world. The Duke of Sussex was photographed aged 20 wearing a military shirt and red swastika armband holding a drink and a cigarette, in what he later described as one of the biggest mistakes of his life.

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While there was fury in public, Harry says his brother and Princess Kate "howled with laughter" when they spotted him in it. William was at the same party but dressed as a lion.

Harry wrote in his book: "I phoned Willy and Kate, asked what they thought. Nazi uniform, they said. They both howled. Worse than Willy's leotard outfit! Way more ridiculous! Which, again, was the point."

William is Harry's 'beloved brother' and 'arch nemesis'

The pair were long known to have been close and it's clear to see in Harry's own words. He described William as being both his "beloved brother" and "arch nemesis". He later blamed the heir/spare comparison, claiming he had been pitched against his brother on many occasions by onlookers.

William 'gone forever' after marrying Kate

Harry opened up about William's marriage to Kate (Getty Images)

"The brother I'd escorted into Westminster Abbey that morning was gone — forever," Harry wrote of the morning of William's wedding day. He added: "Who could deny it? He'd never again be first and foremost Willy. We'd never again ride together across the Lesotho countryside with capes blowing behind us. We'd never again share a horsey-smelling cottage while learning to fly. Who shall separate us? Life, that's who."

"And I recall Willy walking her back up the aisle, and as they disappeared through the door, into the carriage that would convey them to Buckingham Palace, into the eternal partnership they'd pledged, I recall thinking: Goodbye."

William didn't invite Harry to dinner

Harry claimed he had been excited to move nearby to William and Kate in 2013 when he moved into Nottingham Cottage. He explained they were only "half a football pitch away" and expected to be invited for dinner, but the invitation never arrived.

Harry and William united over Camilla

Prior to the now King Charles exchanging vows with Queen Camilla, Harry and William are said to have asked their father to reconsider his decision. Harry had called her the "wicked stepmother" and said both he and William didn't want their dad to marry her.

William pretended he didn't know Harry at school

Harry made a number of claims about William's treatment towards him (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Harry said his brother had to get used to him being at Eton College with him after having the boarding school as his "sanctuary" for two years before Harry arrived. He claimed William wasn't willing to give up his social circle and welcome his brother with open arms and insisted it was "pure agony" when they had to dress the same.

William allegedly "hated" the fact he and his brother were often seen as a "package deal" and Harry said this was made worse when they were put under the same roof at the school.

Princess Diana's death

Harry emotionally described the moment in 2007 when both he and his brother drove through the tunnel that their mother died in. Harry said he had thought doing so would bring closure, but instead, it brought more pain.

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He said the pair had spoken about wanting to issue a statement to jointly call for the inquiry to be reopened, but it never happened. "We were talked out of it by the powers that be," Harry wrote.

Brothers' secret code

Harry claimed the pair had a secret code they used throughout their lives in which they would swear on their mum's life. He explained how it was used as a way to show the severity of a situation if it was ever said.

"Ever since we were boys those three words were to be used only in times of extreme crisis," he said. "For nearly twenty-five years we'd reserved that soul-crushing vow for times when one of us needed to be heard, to be believed quickly. For times when nothing else would do."

William on Meghan

William gave Harry advice about Meghan (Getty Images)

Kate and William were said to be shocked when Harry revealed he was dating Meghan Markle. The pair were said to have been avid viewers of Suits. However, after William suggested his brother should "slow down" his relationship, he was left "a bit hurt".

He later added his brother warned him against proposing to the star as he was moving too fast. Harry wrote how William said he would be likely to face a "host of difficulties" for dating an American actress, something Harry thought sounded like his brother was talking about a "convicted felon".

He also said his older brother had been concerned by his comments that their mother had guided Meghan into his life. "Willy took a step back. He looked concerned," Harry said of William's reaction. "That seemed to be taking things a bit far."

Harry 'brainwashed' in therapy

Harry claimed he had attended therapy sessions after being advised to by his brother. Despite it appearing to not be effective at first, Harry said he tried again after Meghan suggested it to him. Despite William's initial suggestion, Harry said his older brother had fears he was being "brainwashed" and planned to attend with him. Despite the claim, Harry said his brother never came and instead Harry thought it was Will's way of saying he was "unwise," rather than "unwell".

Harry claims William attacked him

Perhaps one of the most shocking claims to come out of the book regarding the pair was Harry's claims of a physical altercation in 2019. During a heated incident, William was said to have been calling Meghan "difficult," with Harry saying his brother seemed "aggrieved" that Harry wasn't obeying him, but instead shouting back.

Harry 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," he went on to say. "I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out."

Jamie Roberts