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7 jaw-dropping revelations from Prince Harry's memoir

  • Contents of Prince Harry's memoir have been revealed ahead of its release next week

  • In the excerpts the duke reportedly gives explosive insight into his relationship with William

  • Most significantly, Harry has accused his brother of attacking him in 2019 after William called Meghan "difficult" and "rude"

  • Read on below to discover the most jaw-dropping revelations from the book

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.  (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
The memoir by Prince Harry, pictured here when he last saw them during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth, is reported to contain further revelations about his relationship with the rest of the Royal Family. (Getty Images)

Revelations from Prince Harry's explosive memoir have started to emerge ahead of its launch next week.

'Spare' is set to be released in the UK on Tuesday, but copies of the book mistakenly went on sale in Spain five days ahead of the official release date before apparently being swiftly removed.

One of the more significant details to emerge includes an accusation from Harry that William physically attacked his brother in 2019 in a dispute over Meghan. Harry also writes that Meghan upset Kate by saying she had "baby brain" in the run-up to her wedding.

Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have not commented on the reports.

Here's a rundown of the biggest claims and revelations so far.

Harry and William came to physical blows

As first reported by the Guardian, a confrontation in 2019 at Harry's Kensington Palace residence, Nottingham Cottage, turned physical. A "piping hot" William, Harry claims, insulted Meghan before the two brothers began shouting at each other.

Harry alleges he was then followed into the kitchen by his brother, who then "came at" him.

"[William] grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace", Harry wrote, "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".

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (L) and Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend the unveiling of a statue of their mother, Princess Diana at The Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace, London on July 1, 2021, which would have been her 60th birthday. - Princes William and Harry set aside their differences on Thursday to unveil a new statue of their mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski / POOL / AFP) (Photo by DOMINIC LIPINSKI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Harry and William have only been at a handful of events together since Harry left the UK in 2020, one of them, pictured here, was the unveiling of a statue in honour of their late mother in July 2021. (Getty Images)

He further alleges that William told him not to tell Meghan about the incident.

"You don't need to tell Meg about this." Harry quotes his brother as saying.

Harry admits he didn't tell Meghan straight away but instead spoke to his therapist, but when Meghan later found out what happened she "wasn't that surprised" but was "terribly sad".

Meghan said Kate had 'baby brain'

An apparently frosty relationship between Kate and Meghan has long been reported. Harry's book gives more insight into this, describing two reported incidents around the time of the Sussexes' wedding.

According the the Telegraph, Harry writes that Meghan commented on Kate having "baby brain" because she was heavily pregnant at the time.

This reportedly upset Kate, as she had difficult pregnancies for her three children, suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a hormone imbalance which causes extreme vomiting and left her hospitalised during her first pregnancy.

Harry claims Kate told Meghan: “You talked about my hormones. We are not close enough for you to talk about my hormones!”

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14:  Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 14, 2018 in London, England.  (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Kate and Meghan attended Wimbledon together after they are reported to have fallen out, in July 2018. (Getty Images)

Harry also alleges that Meghan apologised, but William leapt to his wife's defence and told Meghan she was being "rude" while pointing in her face, to which she responded: "If you don't mind, keep your finger out of my face".

In another part of the memoir, Harry addresses the reports that Meghan made Kate cry during a bridesmaids' dress fitting for Princess Charlotte.

According to Harry, the disagreement stemmed over attempts to re-fit the dress. Harry writes that he discovered Meghan sobbing on the floor and that Kate subsequently apologised. The duke reportedly goes on to write that Kate admitted media reports that she had been made to cry prior to the wedding by Meghan were false.

Harry discusses losing his virginity

Harry also discloses personal details, such as how he lost his virginity.

According to the Daily Mail, he says he had sex with an older women in a field outside a "busy pub" aged 17.

"I mounted her quickly, after which she spanked my ass and sent me away. One of my many mistakes was letting it happen in a field, just behind a very busy pub. No doubt someone had seen us," he writes.

He called it a "humiliating episode".

Harry on taking cocaine

According to the Times, Harry also says he took cocaine — a class A drug — when he was 17.

He explains he was first offered the substance during a hunting weekend, and consumed more.

"It wasn’t very fun, and it didn’t make me feel especially happy as seemed to happen to others, but it did make me feel different, and that was my main objective. To feel. To be different.

"I was a seventeen-year-old willing to try almost anything that would alter the pre-established order".

Harry reveals how many people he killed in Afghanistan

Spare also covers Harry's time in the armed forces, during which the duke says he killed 25 people.

AFGHANISTAN - JANUARY 02: (NO PUBLICATION IN UK MEDIA FOR 28 DAYS) Prince Harry sits on his camp bed in his accommodation at FOB Delhi (forward operating base),on January 2, 2008 in Helmand province, Southern Afghanistan. (Photo by John Stillwell POOL/ Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images)
Prince Harry sits on his camp bed in his accommodation in Helmand province, Southern Afghanistan. (Getty Images)

According to the Telegraph, the duke writes that he feels neutral about taking lives, but at the time saw them as "chess pieces" rather than "people".

"It seemed to me essential not to be afraid of that number [he killed] So my number is 25. It’s not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me".

Describing watching a video of each “kill” when he returned to base, he wrote of Taliban fighters as “baddies” who were being eliminated before they could kill “goodies”.

Harry 'begged' Charles not to marry Camilla

The book also sheds light on Harry's relationship with his step-mother, the Queen Consort.

Harry writes he and his brother "begged" Charles not to marry the now-Queen Consort and that he wondered if Camilla would one day be his “wicked stepmother”, and that she leaked details of her conversation with William to the press.

He also noted that despite being aware of Camilla being the "other woman" during their parent's marriage, he and William were willing to forgive that, because she could make Charles happy.

Diana spoke to Harry from beyond the grave

According to the Guardian, Harry also spoke to a woman who "claimed to have 'powers" and, he says, gave him a message from his late mother, Diana, that she was happy with the choices he had made.

"You're living the life she couldn't [...] you're living the life she wanted for you".

Harry is said to note his initial scepticism at the woman's supposed 'powers' dissipated after he sat down with her and felt an "energy".

Pre-order now: Spare by Prince Harry | £14 (Was £28) at Amazon

Additional reporting by PA

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