Insiders have disputed Prince Harry’s account in Spare that he was physically attacked by his elder brother, describing the claims as a “cheap shot”.
The new biography by royal author Russell Myers, titled William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, features sources close to the Prince of Wales disputing allegations made in the Duke of Sussex’s memoir Spare.
A source quoted in the book states: “It was a cheap shot [from Harry] to present such an argument.
“Tensions were running very high, and yes, there certainly were cross words exchanged that on reflection were regrettable, but the prince [William] is adamant there was no physical violence.”
In his 2023 autobiography, Harry alleged that the altercation took place at Nottingham Cottage, his former residence within the Kensington Palace grounds.
Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace did not publicly comment on these claims at the time.
The duke claimed his brother confronted him about Meghan being “difficult” and “abrasive” towards royal household employees.
According to Harry’s account, William seized him by the collar before throwing him to the ground, causing his necklace to break in the process.
Prince William insiders ‘adamant there was no physical violence’ in Prince Harry row
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The duke further claimed he landed on a dog bowl, which cracked beneath his back from the impact.
Sources in Mr Myers’ biography dispute that any physical violence occurred during the heated exchange.
The biography also claims that the Princess of Wales showed less enthusiasm than her husband for preventing the Sussexes from stepping back from their royal duties.
Catherine, according to sources cited in the biography, viewed Harry’s exit as something that could not be avoided.
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Prince Harry wrote a tell-all memoir called Spare in January 2023 | PA
Despite having previously served as a mediating influence during the deterioration of the brothers’ relationship, the future queen ultimately concluded there was nothing more she could do to repair the rift between William and Harry.
Sources in the book also defended William against Harry’s accusation of promoting tabloid narratives about Meghan, stating that Palace staff had been “ground down” by the couple to the point of resignation or suffering mental health difficulties.
The biography further claims that William pushed for his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, to be removed from royal duties immediately following the former Duke of York’s catastrophic BBC Newsnight interview in 2019.
Prince Harry and Prince William have had a strained relationship since the duke moved to California
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Mr Myers, who has covered the Prince and Princess of Wales for nearly a decade, described his book as offering an unprecedented look at the couple beyond public appearances.
“I’ve spent almost a decade following The Prince and Princess of Wales as part of the Royal pack and have always believed there’s so much more to the couple than the spectacle reveals,” the author said, adding that the biography explores “love, resilience, and their journey together” during an “unprecedented era”.
GB News has contacted the Duke of Sussex’s representatives for comment.