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Prince Harry said the original transcript of his autobiography, Spare, was twice as long as the final, 416-page draft. A large part of the content he decided not to include, the Duke of Sussex said in a newly-released interview, concerned interactions between himself, Prince William and King Charles. Speaking to the Telegraph’s Bryony Gordon, Harry said the “hard bit” was choosing what to take out of the book. Explaining why he didn’t disclose some of his exchanges with his closest royal relatives, the Duke said: “There are some things that have happened, especially between me and my brother, and to some extent between me and my father, that I just don’t want the world to know.” He added he doesn’t think the pair “would ever forgive me” if he did make those revelations.
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Prince Harry has revealed that he is “not religious” in his new memoir Spare, despite his family’s historical and close ties with the Church of England.
The prince’s stance is in sharp contrast to the deeply held religious views held by his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth and his father King Charles.
In his memoir the Duke broaches the subject when recounting hunting and shooting a stag during his childhood at Balmoral, the firm’s Scottish home in Aberdeenshire.
He said: “I wasn’t religious, but this ‘blood facial’ was, to me, baptismal.”
“Blooding”, he goes on to explain, is a ritual to initiate newcomers into hunting culture as well as a show of respect for the animal that has been killed.
He adds that it is “an act of communion by the slayer”.
However the Duke does mention that King Charles or “Pa” as he is referred to in the book is “deeply religious”.
He said: “He prayed every night, but now, in this moment, I too felt close to God.”
In Spare the Duke does not elaborate on how the hunting incident made him feel closer to a spiritual deity.
Prince Harry previously opened up to his cousin Princess Eugenie about an “awkward” date with an ex-girlfriend before he started dating his wife Meghan Markle.
The pair are known to be close, with Eugenie even flying to California to visit Harry’s family after they stepped down from royal life.
The York’s youngest daughter also introduced Harry to one of her friends, actress Cressida Bonas, who he dated between 2012-2014.
However he acknowledged that he was not as smooth with Ms Bonas as he could have been.
The couple were on their second date when Harry dropped her home and tried to go in for the kiss, however his “aim was off”.
He wrote in his memoir Spare: “She turned, I tried again on the return trip, and we managed something like a graze. Painfully awkward.”
He phoned his cousin the next day to fill her in on the awkward details, however his date had got there before him.
Harry writes: “Disencouraged, I told her the date had gone well but the ending had left something to be desired.
“She didn’t disagree. She’d already spoken to Cressida. She sighed. Awkward.”
Rishi Sunak could be dragged into the debate about whether Prince Harry should be invited to King Charles’ coronation.
According to The Daily Mail senior Royal insiders have argued that the decision should be “taken out of the King’s hands”.
Sources have also said that the monarch should use the so called “Churchill precedent” to avoid the “impossible” decision to either ban his own son or face a media circus if the Duke and Duchess of Sussex do attend.
The Duke has so far refused to say if he would come to the coronation, even when directly asked.
In 1953 then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill told the former King the Duke of Windsor, who had abdicated as Edward VIII, that he was not welcome at the Coronation of Elizabeth II.
A source told The Mail on Sunday that because the Coronation will be funded by the state it was the responsibility of the Government to resolve the matter.
They said: “The Coronation is a State event and funded by the State.
“So, in the same way that Winston Churchill advised the Duke of Windsor to stay away [from Elizabeth II’s Coronation], the decision of whether to invite Harry, who has no official Royal role and no state function at the ceremony, will be down to the Government rather than just his father.”
However in Whitehall insiders were attempting to pass the “Harry hot potato” back to Buckingham Palace.
One source told The Daily Mail that the Royal Household was responsible for devising the guest list for major royal events.
Prince Harry‘s new book Spare has taken the world by storm, but its content has stirred yet more criticism of him and his relationship with his family, the royals.
In the memoir, he takes aim at the likes of his older brother Prince William, and stepmother, Queen Camilla.
The division it has caused within the royal fold would have left TV royalty Dame Barbara Windsor saddened, her husband has claimed.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Scott Mitchell, who was married to Dame Barbara for 27 years until her death in 2020, claimed the ongoing row over Harry’s place in the Firm would have upset the actress, affectionately known as Babs.
A “staunch royalist”, Dame Barbara always supported the Royal Family and developed a strong bond with the world’s most famous family across the years.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not relinquish their titles but will need to “be taken away” directly by the King, according to royal author Christopher Andersen.
The Duke of Sussex suggested the couple has no intention to give up on their roles, hinting that the change would not help resolve his qualms with the Royal Family.
Under current rules, King Charles III would need to have MPs push new legislation through Parliament before he is able to have the Sussex title revert to the Crown.
Prince Harry has publicly called for a reconciliation with his family – and one source has claimed peace talks may be on the cards.
The Duke of Sussex has laid bare his rocky relationships and made some damning accusations in the pages of his new book Spare.
Now dubbed the fastest selling non-fiction book, Harry’s made no secret in publicity interviews how he wants his family back.
And in a report by The Times, there may be a time when peace talks could settle the water.
It is hoped this would be in time for the King’s coronation on May 6.
Publicly, the Duke has recently revealed that he wants “accountability” and “an apology” from his family, but claims that they have “shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile”.
Speaking of his estranged family, Harry said that he wishes to “sit down and have a proper conversation about this”, adding that he says wants his brother and his father “back”.
But the Times reports a source close to both parties thinks a peace meeting, which will include the King and his two sons, could be planned to go ahead in the coming months.
A royal source, who also knew the Duke and Duchess of Sussex very well, believes a reconciliation meeting between the couple and the Royal Family will happen in the coming months and needs to take place before the coronation in May.
They added: “It’s going to take flexibility on all sides, but it can be done, it’s fixable”.
Prince Harry‘s publishers are already planning a second royal blockbuster next year – with the release of his wife Meghan‘s memoirs, it was claimed yesterday.
A senior industry source says bosses at Penguin Random House have been so stunned by the runaway success of Harry’s book Spare that “the heat is on” to rush her version of events into print.
READ MORE HEREPrince Harry has been accused of compromising the security of the Royal Family by describing the layout of various royal residences in his new tell-all memoir.
Prince Harry has been accused of compromising the security of the Royal Family by describing the layout of various royal residences in his new tell-all memoir. Dai Davies, a former head of royal protection, has described the Duke of Sussex as a “fool” for revealing such information in his book, Spare. He has deemed the details as “dangerous” if they were to land in the wrong hands, in a report by the Telegraph.
READ MORE HERE
Prince Harry has spoken out more frequently about his turbulent relationship with the media in recent weeks, detailing a lifetime of being ‘snapped’ by the paparazzi.
Meghan and Harry have pursued a life in the US and now live miles away from the Royal backdrop of Great Britain. But with King Charles III’s coronation coming up this summer, there has been much speculation over whether the pair will attend. With no confirmation on either decision as yet, the couple have been accused of knowing “how to play” the press, despite the Duke of Sussex verbally bashing the press after a lifetime of being in the spotlight.
READ MORE HEREPrince Harry suggested in recent interviews he has left the door open to a reconciliation with his family.
A reconciliation between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Royal Family is still possible, albeit in a few years time, royal commentator Jonathan Sacerdoti believes.
READ MORE HERE
Prince Harry‘s memoir Spare was officially released on January 10.
Prince Harry has claimed that he wishes his brother, Prince William “would be able to feel the same benefits” that he has experienced since seeking therapy. The Duke of Sussex was in conversation with The Telegraph where he spoke about his memoir, which was officially published on January 10.
READ MORE HERE
The relationship between the royal siblings has been laid out in great detail in Harry’s autobiography Spare.
Prince Harry has shared his concerns over Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte that one of his nephews or niece “could end up like him” as the “spare” of the family. While Prince George is currently next in line to the throne after his father, the Prince of Wales, his own future children would push his sister and brother further down the line of succession.
READ MORE HERE
Prince Harry stepped up to support his elder brother at the altar during his wedding to Kate Middleton in April 2011.
In 2011, the Royal Family prepared for the wedding of future king, Prince William to the then Kate Middleton in a majestic and patriotic ceremony watched by the entire globe. While Prince Harry stood by his brother at the altar, he has since revealed he did not secure the official role as best man.
READ MORE HEREThe Duke of Sussex addressed his family directly in a new explosive interview.
Prince Harry told the Royal Family to “come clean” in a newly-released interview likely to upset Firm members. The Duke of Sussex demanded the Firm apologise to his wife Meghan Markle and used this sit-down with a journalist to issue a direct message to his royal relatives.
READ MORE HERE
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lilibet Diana, after their move to the US.
A health expert has said the Meghan risks being seen as part of a traumatised narrative, but says she and Harry can protect their children, three-year-old son Archie and one-year-old daughter Lilibet, against the impact of the Royal Family fued.
READ MORE HEREPrince Harry shared a behind-the-scenes about the wedding of Prince William and Kate, the now Prince and Princess of Wales, in his book.
Prince William confessed to Prince Harry he was “frustrated” due to a decision made for him by the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Sussex has claimed. In his autobiography titled Spare, Harry recalled the day the now Prince and Princess of Wales tied the knot in April 2011.
READ MORE HEREZara and Mike Tindall are currently in Australia, amid a very turbulent week for the Royal Family.
Zara, the only daughter of Princess Anne, and her ex-rugby player husband have been pictured canoodling as they posed for photos at an engagement Down Under.
READ MORE HEREKate, the Princess of Wales, was left “baffled” by Prince Harry‘s memoir, Spare, insiders have revealed.
The royal featured in several of the book’s most revelatory moments as the Prince recounted uncomfortable episodes between her and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
While the Princess has reportedly moved on from these claims to focus on her work, these personal attacks left her initially “baffled”, the Daily Mirror royal editor Russell Myers claimed.
Read the full story here
Judi James, a professional body language expert, analysed the Prince and Princess of Wales’ body language during their first outing following the release of Prince Harry‘s book Spare.
The royals visited Merseyside on Thursday, when they met a number of mental and physical health professionals.
Ms James told Express.co.uk: “Kate and William’s response to Harry’s claims and accusations seems to be non-verbal, allowing their body language to do the talking rather than any written or verbal response.”
However, Judi argued that despite the aim for solidarity, Prince William displayed some “signals” which tell a different story.
She claimed: “The look is all about unity, defiance and resilience, but some of William’s underlying signals suggest we shouldn’t underestimate the effort this might have taken.
“Unlike his father, who appeared beaming and chuckling as though having one of his best days, William shows hints of his more sensitive side here.”
Read the full story here Prince William is not going to “forgive and forget” Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s repeated attacks on Kate, the Princess of Wales, journalist Dan Wootton claimed.
Mr Wootton told US broadcaster Megyn Kelly: “William ain’t going to forgive and forget. His red line, by the way, was not the personal attacks on him, it was the attacks on Kate, his wife.
“He found that completely despicable when Meghan went on international television and claimed that Kate had made her cry.
“We’ve then seen more attacks on Kate in the Netflix documentary. But this book…William is presented as the villain of the piece. Harry has to know there are now permanent ramifications for his relationship with William.”
Read the full story here
As the second child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, there isn’t a strict rule on which title, if any, Princess Charlotte could be given when Prince William becomes King.
There are chances she could remain known simply with the title of Princess for her whole life.
However, it is also possible the now seven-year-old will be created Princess Royal, the title currently held by Princess Anne.
But this decsion would depend on a number of factors, as this title isn’t automatically passed down from one member of the Royal Family to another.
Read the full story herePrince Harry has been warned claims made against his family in his autobiography Spare could “undermine” the veracity of previous allegations.
The Duke of Sussex repeatedly claimed royal staffers routinely trade stories about other members of the Royal Family to deflect attention from their employers.
But royal historian Gareth Russell noted the claim could ultimately be “dangerous” to Harry himself.
Asked about the “most damaging allegation” to emerge from the book, Mr Russell told US Weekly: “I think probably the outright accusation that each of the households are leaking stories to the media, and playing a game with them.
“It’s dangerous for two reasons – first, it strangely undermines his point a little bit about the perniciousness of the tabloid press.
“It makes it more of a complicit, difficult-to-disentangle relationship and you then have to question – if all the households are doing this, was Diana doing this, was Charles doing this in the 90s?
“It made it a bit more difficult to follow what I thought was a brilliantly put-forward point.”
Read the full story here
Gary Goldsmith, the younger sibling of the Princess of Wales’ mother Carole Middleton, said reading Princess Charlotte included in Prince Harry‘s book made him “see red”.
In his memoir, the Duke of Sussex provided his version of what happened behind closed doors between Kate and his then-fiancée Meghan in the run-up to the Sussexes’ nuptials.
In order to do so, Harry shared a few private messages between the Princess and the Duchess focused on issues concerning the dress Princess Charlotte was meant to wear as a flower girl at the wedding on May 19 2018.
One of Kate’s texts included in the book mentioned the girl, aged three at the time, had “cried when she tried [the gown] on at home”, as it was too baggy and long for her.
Read about Mr Goldsmith’s reaction to Harry’s move here A new poll of Express.co.uk readers has found opposition to the idea Zara Tindall, one of the King’s nieces, may be one of the future stars of Strictly Come Dancing.
Express.co.uk ran a poll from 9.30am on Friday, December 30, to 1.30pm on Friday, January 13, asking readers: “Should Zara Tindall take part in Strictly Come Dancing?”
In total, 1,497 readers responded with the overall result being “no” she should not, gaining 53 percent (789 people) of votes cast.
By contrast, 45 percent (679 people) said “yes” they woud like Zara to take part and a further two percent (29 people) said they did not know.
Read the full story here US-based royal expert Marlene Koenig has described the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as being “trapped” in a vicious cycle with their ongoing potshots towards the Royal Family.
Ms Koenig said: “There is the view that they are trapped in this story [and] this cycle of hurling bombs at members of Harry’s family.”
Speaking of the US press, she added: “There has also been a discussion about hypocrisy and the comments that the Royal Family is not racist… but Harry and Meghan let this falsehood fester for nearly 2 years.”
She added that this was “intentional”.
The royal expert added: “Harry complains about the press but when the UK ran with this story, Harry did not immediately issue a statement.”
Read the full story here
Prince Harry extraordinarily claimed he feels the “responsibility” to reform the monarchy.
This drive, he explained in his latest interview, comes from the desire to safeguard Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, saying the younger son and daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales are at risk of “ending up like me”.
Explaining he likes to “fix” things, the Duke of Sussex said he was approaching his mission with “long-term strategic thinking”, adding: “This is not about trying to collapse the monarchy – this is about trying to save them from themselves.”
Speaking to The Telegraph, the Duke of Sussex referred to the young children of Prince William and Kate, saying: “I know that out of those three children, at least one will end up like me, the spare. And that hurts, it worries me.”
While Prince George’s future is already being shaped for him as he is the next Prince of Wales, the role Charlotte and Louis will have in the Firm is not as well defined at the moment.
The Duke of Sussex suggested he had already mentioned his concerns to his elder brother, as he added: “He has made it very clear to me that his kids are not my responsibility”.
Prince Harry has claimed King Charles wanted to avoid supporting Meghan financially for fear that the “resplendent” Duchess would steal the limelight from him.
In one of many comparisons the Duke makes between Meghan and his late mother throughout his new memoir Spare, Harry claimed the King was worried she would be the next Diana, and expressed a hope that Meghan would continue working as an actress after marrying into the family.
According to the book, Harry told his father that Meghan would likely not continue to do so, to which he says the King responded: “Well, my dear son, you already know that we don’t have money to spare.”
The reality, Harry claims to have realised, was that Charles had previously experienced being cast into the shadows and could not face “a novel and resplendent” royal who would take the limelight from him and Queen Camilla and “dominate the monarchy”.
In an apparent reference to his mother Diana, the Prince added: “He had experienced that before and he had no interest in letting it happen to him again.”
Read the full story here Prince Harry opened up on the day he learned his beloved grandfather Prince Philip had died.
Recalling the sad moment in his book Spare, the Duke of Sussex wrote how he had woken to 32 missed calls.
He added he then had a “short, heart-racing” talk with Queen Elizabeth II, during which she said: “Harry… Grandpa’s gone.”
Read the full story here
A reconciliation between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Royal Family is still possible, albeit in a few years time, royal commentator Jonathan Sacerdoti believes.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could still rekindle their personal relationship with their UK-based relatives, the expert and broadcaster said when discussing the feud.
However, Mr Sacerdoti added, a similar rapprochement is more likely to happen if both parties stop discussing, at least publicly, the rift.
Read the full story hereA OnePoll survey commissioned by the Daily Express has found that the Duke of Sussex has effectively lost the support of all age groups in the UK with the exception of people in the 18-24 age bracket after attacking his family in his newly published memoir, Spare.
The results will add to mounting pressure on King Charles to take action against his outspoken son and daughter-in-law, even though sources close to him have suggested he will want to try to reconcile privately with Harry and Meghan in the run-up to the Coronation.
The OnePoll survey suggested 44 percent of the public do not want to see the Sussexes at the Coronation taking place on May 6, while only 31 percent thought the couple should attend and the rest were undecided.
A senior royal aide said no decision had been taken yet about invitations.
But Kristina Kyriacou, a former communications secretary to the monarch, still believes Harry and Meghan will be asked to attend the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
She told the Daily Express: “The King is not a vindictive man.”
Find the full poll results here
Good morning from London. I’m Alice Scarsi, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on the Royal Family and the fallout from Prince Harry‘s memoir, Spare. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: alice.scarsi@reachplc.com
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