Prince Harry alleges in a much-anticipated new memoir that his brother Prince William lashed out and physically attacked him during a furious argument over the brothers鈥� deteriorating relationship, The Guardian reported Thursday.
The newspaper said it obtained an advance copy of the book, 鈥淪pare,鈥� due to be published next week.
It said Harry recounts a 2019 argument at his Kensington Palace home, in which he says William called Harry鈥檚 wife, the former actress Meghan Markle, 鈥渄ifficult,鈥� 鈥渞ude鈥� and 鈥渁brasive.鈥� Harry claims William grabbed his brother by the collar and ripped his necklace before knocking him down, the newspaper said.
鈥淚 landed on the dog鈥檚 bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me,鈥� the book is quoted as saying. 鈥淚 lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out.鈥�
Harry says he had 鈥渟crapes and bruises鈥� as a result of the tussle. William later apologized, the extract says.
Separately, celebrity website Page Six reported that the book alleges William and his now-wife Kate encouraged Harry to wear a Nazi uniform to a costume party in 2005. Harry has repeatedly apologized and called the decision one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
Neither Buckingham Palace, which represents King Charles III, nor William鈥檚 Kensington Palace office has commented on the claims.
The book, scheduled to be released Tuesday, is the latest in a string of public revelations and accusations by Harry and Meghan that have shaken Britain鈥檚 royal family,
Harry, 38, and the American actress in May 2018. Less than two years later, the couple and moved to California, citing what they saw as the media鈥檚 racist treatment of Meghan, who is biracial, and a lack of support from the palace.
Since then they have presented their side of the story in an interview with Oprah Winfrey and a released last month, which recounted the couple鈥檚 bruising relationship with the U.K. media and estrangement from the royal family.
In the series, Harry claimed William screamed at him during a family meeting and accused palace officials of lying to protect his elder brother, who is now heir to the throne. Meghan, 41, talked about wanting to end her life as she struggled to cope with toxic press coverage.
Harry has recorded interviews with British broadcaster ITV and CBS in the United States to promote the book. Both are due to be broadcast Sunday.
In snippets released in advance, Harry told ITV that the royal household had cast him and Meghan as 鈥渧illains鈥� and 鈥渟hown absolutely no willingness to reconcile.鈥� He told CBS that the palace鈥檚 refusal to defend him and Meghan from attacks was a 鈥渂etrayal.鈥�
Palace officials have declined to comment on any of Meghan and Harry鈥檚 allegations.
The book also explains the reasons for its title, the Guardian said. It said Harry recounts the alleged words of his father to his mother, Princess Diana, on the day of his birth: 鈥淲onderful! Now you鈥檝e given me an heir and a spare 鈥� my work is done.鈥�
While William was destined from birth to be king, Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne behind his brother and William鈥檚 three children, has often appeared to struggle with the more ambiguous role of 鈥渟pare.鈥� He spent a decade in the British Army 鈥� years he has described as his happiest 鈥� before taking up full-time royal duties in 2015.
Since his split from the royal family, he has launched a new career, with his wife, as a U.S.-based charity campaigner and media personality.
Asked by ITV鈥檚 Tom Bradby whether he will play a part in the British monarchy鈥檚 future, Harry said: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know.鈥�
鈥擩ill Lawless, The Associated Press
