In a candid revelation, Prince Harry has opened up about a heated physical altercation with his older brother, Prince William. The incident, which occurred at Nottingham Cottage within the grounds of Kensington Palace, sheds light on the complex dynamics within the royal family.

The Memoir and the “Spare”

Prince Harry’s controversial memoir, titled Spare, delves into his personal experiences and emotions. He describes feeling like the “spare” in comparison to Prince William’s role as the heir to the throne. One pivotal passage recounts a violent encounter that left Harry grappling with both physical and emotional wounds.

The Confrontation

According to Harry, the argument escalated rapidly. William, apparently seeking a fight, confronted Harry with accusations about Meghan Markle, Harry’s wife. The tension reached a breaking point when William physically grabbed Harry by the collar, knocking him to the floor. The shards of a broken dog’s bowl cut into Harry’s back as he lay there, stunned.

Harry had accused him of repeating opinions about his wife Meghan Markle and called her “difficult”, “rude”, and “abrasive”.

William told his little brother he was trying to help, but Harry was flabbergasted, asking him: “Are you serious? Help me? Sorry – is that what you call this? Helping me?”

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. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out.”

After the fight, William told Harry: “You don’t need to tell Meg about this.”

Harry responded: “‘You mean that you attacked me?” William replied: “I didn’t attack you, Harold”.

Meghan’s Reaction

Interestingly, Meghan was not the first person Harry confided in after the assault. Instead, he turned to his therapist to process the emotional aftermath. Later, Meghan noticed the scrapes and bruises, but she “wasn’t that surprised” and “wasn’t all that angry. She was terribly sad,” Harry said. She had become accustomed to the complexities of royal life.

A Regretful Apology

As the dust settled, William returned, seemingly remorseful. He apologized for his actions, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. But the scars—both physical and emotional—remained, forever altering the relationship between the two brothers.

Unprecedented Insight

Prince Harry’s willingness to share this deeply personal account provides unprecedented insight into the struggles faced by members of the royal family. It underscores the pressures, conflicts, and vulnerabilities that exist behind the palace walls.