t’s been three years since the release of Prince Harry’s tell-all memoir, Spare, where he made comments about the royal family, including Kate Middleton.

The Duke of Sussex’s book released on January 10, 2023. It sent shockwaves through the palace as Harry reflected on his royal upbringing and his turbulent exit from senior duties.

But, according to one royal commentator, Harry broke the royal family’s long-standing rule of “never complain, never explain” with his memoir.
The Duke of Sussex’s memoir Spare was released three years ago (Credit: Cover Images)

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What did Prince Harry say about Kate Middleton in his memoir Spare?

Royal author Katie Nicholl spoke about Harry’s book and the “snide” comments he made about his sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales.

Nicholl claimed that Princess Catherine felt “hurt and disappointed” by Harry’s memoir.

In his book, Harry detailed the bridesmaid row reports surrounding his wife, Meghan Markle, and Kate.

Months after Harry and Meghan’s wedding in May 2018, reports emerged claiming that Kate was left in tears in the lead-up to the wedding after a disagreement with Meghan over daughter Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress not fitting properly.

In her 2021 Oprah interview, after she and Harry quit duties and moved to the US, Meghan claimed it was actually the other way round and Kate had made her cry. She said the Princess of Wales apologised to her.

Harry broke the one rule and that is staying silent on family matters.

Harry detailed the alleged row in his memoir, claiming Kate wanted the dress remade just days before the nuptials. In the end, according to Harry, Kate agreed to visit the tailor with Charlotte.

But Harry claimed in his book that he later found Meghan in tears “on the floor” following the disagreement.

Elsewhere in Spare, Harry also claimed that his brother Prince William and Kate had encouraged him to wear a Nazi uniform as a costume at a fancy dress party in 2005.

Harry referred to the ill-judged moment as “one of the biggest mistakes of my life”.
The Princess of Wales was mentioned in Harry’s book (Credit: Cover Images)

Prince Harry ‘broke royal rule’ with memoir

According to Nicholl, Harry’s memoir did have an impact on his relationship with Kate. Harry and Kate had once shared a close friendship.

Speaking to The Sun‘s Fabulous in late 2023, Nicholl said: “When you think of the personal revelations, and I think you can call them snide remarks made about Kate in Spare, Harry broke the one rule and that is staying silent on family matters.

“While Kate and Harry used to be very, very close, there’s been a complete breakdown of that relationship. I don’t think Kate does angry.”

She added: “I think it is more a case of feeling very disappointed, very let down and feeling hurt knowing that she had no right of reply – and Harry knew full well she had no right of reply.”