Five questions still unanswered a year on from Prince Harry’s bombshell book Spare – and biggest fall outs that followed
A YEAR on from the release of Prince Harry’s bombshell book many questions have been left unanswered.
The memoir sold 3.2million copies in its first week of publication in January — and 1.4million on its first day.
In it, the duke, 38, claims he was knocked to the ground in a row with brother William who, he says, had called Harry’s wife Meghan “rude” and “difficult”.
He was also widely mocked for revealing he applied Elizabeth Arden cream to his frostbitten todger.
And the prince wrote that he lost his virginity in an “inglorious” episode with an older woman who “smacked my rump and sent me off to graze”.
Here we take a look at the biggest unanswered questions a year after its released…
Have Meghan and Kate tried to heal their rift?
The Duke of Sussex used to be known to be close with Kate Middleton.
But his relationship with the Princess of Wales along with his brother William has now sharply deteriorated.
According to his book, a feud began between Meghan and Kate during a phone call about wedding rehearsals.
In an explosive section of his biography, Harry revealed that in the run up to the royal wedding in 2018, Meghan told the Princess of Wales that she must have “baby brain”.
Harry also sensationally claimed Will and Kate encouraged him to wear his notorious Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party, according to a leaked excerpt from his book.
He says the now Prince and Princess of Wales “howled with laughter” when they saw him dressed up in the offensive outfit for the party in 2005.
Whether their rocky relationship can be patched up remains to be seen, although it does appear unsalvageable at this point.
Did the Royal Family try to prevent the book’s publication?
Prince Harry wanted to kill his bombshell memoir after visiting the UK for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
It is claimed Harry, 38, was told there would be “no way back” if biography Spare was published while his granny Queen Elizabeth was alive.
A source who worked on the title told The Times: “The book was all ready to go but after visiting his grandmother he had second thoughts.
“That was such a dark day. Everyone had been working so hard on this project in utmost secrecy – and with the expectation this would turn out to be one of the biggest and most historic books we would ever get to publish.
“And then, just after Harry’s last trip to London, the boss walked in and said ‘He’s pulled it. He doesn’t want to do it.’”
The source added: “The rumour was that during the visit it was made clear to him that if he published while the Queen was still alive there would be no way back.
“Obviously that all changed with the monarch’s death in September.”
What did Will and Harry actually say in their fight?
The Duke of Sussex sparked headlines after the reveal of an alleged confrontation with William.
Harry made the extraordinary claims that his brother “knocked him to the floor” during an argument about Meghan Markle, in an extract of the book reported by the Guardian.
The Duke alleges William “grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and … knocked me to the floor”.
Harry claims that William branded Meghan “rude” and “difficult” during a row at his then residence on the grounds of Kensington Palace, Nottingham Cottage.
And it is said Harry then accused his brother of acting like an heir, after which insults were exchanged, reports The Guardian.
William reportedly said he was just trying to help Harry before the alleged confrontation happened.
Only time will tell if Harry chooses to elaborate further on the reported explosive row.
Does Harry regret his Taliban comments?
He was heavily criticised for potentially betraying comrades he fought alongside, with retired military officers suggesting he had undermined their personal security as well as his own.
Harry’s military career lasted 10 years and included two deployments to Afghanistan – in 2007 and 2008, and again in 2012 to 2013.
While working as an Apache helicopter pilot during the second, he flew on six missions that resulted in Taliban deaths.
The prince says that he did not think of the 25 as “people” but rather “chess pieces” that had to be taken off the board.
He also saw the insurgents he killed as “baddies eliminated before they could kill goodies”, he writes.
Soldiers do not usually know how many enemies they have wiped out, but Harry alleges he watched nose-cam footage of each of his kills when he got back to base.
Are there more books to come?
The royals are bracing for Meghan Markle to release her own memoir, sources claim.
The former actress is said to be “contemplating getting entirely candid about her time in the royal limelight” in her own autobiography.
A source told OK: “She fully intends to write this book and leave no stone unturned.
“It’s just a question of timing and how long she wishes to hold out in order to preserve what’s left of her and Harry’s relationship with King Charles.
“The feeling at this point is there’s little to lose, and she may as well go ahead.
“The process is already quietly underway.”
And a Hollywood agent told The Mail on Sunday: “I would find it surprising if Meghan didn’t publish her own story, to be honest.
“Spare is clearly Prince Harry’s chance to tell his, but hers is equally compelling.
“I mean, how many actresses end up marrying a Prince?”
The Sussexes reportedly signed a four-book deal with publishers Penguin Random House in 2021.