York historian says publication of Prince Harry's book is "significant moment" in history of Royal family
His memoir 'Spare' is officially released in the UK today
Prince Harry's book 'Spare' is officially released in the UK today.
In it, Harry alleges he was attacked by his brother William in 2019 as their relationship broke down.
The Duke of Sussex also writes he and the Prince of Wales begged King Charles not to marry Camilla, now the Queen Consort.
The monarch also pleaded with William and Harry not to make his "final years a misery" during a tense meeting after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral.
Dr James Cooper is an Associate Professor in History and American Studies at York St John University, he has told us it's a significant moment in the history of the Royal family: "It's the first time a senior royal has lifted the lid and exposed how things work, most people would assume that was always the case, of course there is bit of back and forth the royal family and the press. But this is the first time you've got a member of the Royal family talking about it."
Prince Harry has come in for some fierce criticism over details of the book, but Dr Cooper thinks most people had already made their minds up about the couple: "The older generation will have fond memories of the Queen and have made their peace with King Charles a long time ago, whereas young people they are much more sensitive to issues like race and empire."
Harry claims he was attacked by his brother during argument about Meghan
Harry alleges the heated confrontation with William took place at his then-home in London, Nottingham Cottage, in 2019, The Guardian said.
The newspaper said it had obtained a copy of Spare despite tight pre-launch security.
Harry writes: "(William) 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."
Harry writes that William had wanted to discuss "the whole rolling catastrophe" of their relationship and struggles with the press, but was already "piping hot" when he arrived at the cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace.
William went on to call Meghan "difficult", "rude" and "abrasive" - comments Harry told him parroted "the press narrative" about his wife.
Harry said he accused his brother of acting like an heir, unable to understand why his younger brother was not content to be a "spare".
Duke of Sussex criticises investigation into Diana's death
Prince Harry also writes about his grief over his mother's death throughout the book, criticising the investigation into her fatal car crash.
The Duke of Sussex believes papparazzi got off lightly, and reveals he asked a driver to replicate the journey through a Paris tunnel that his mother took in the lead up to her death.
He also claimed King Charles did not hug him when he told him about the car crash that killed his mother.
The book is being released four months after the death of Harry's grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, and follows years of turmoil for the royal family amid the Megxit crisis, Philip's death, accusations of racism in the Sussexes' Oprah interview and the long-running feud between William and Harry.