Prince Harry “crossed a line” with the remarks he made about Queen Camilla in his memoir Spare, according to a royal commentator reflecting on the book two years after its release.
The Duke of Sussex, now 40, published his explosive memoir Spare on January 10, 2023. The book caused widespread controversy, as it included numerous claims and revelations about the royal family.
It’s believed the memoir further damaged Harry’s already strained relationship with his family.
Two years have passed since then – but has the dust settled, and has the royal family forgiven Harry? Let’s delve into the matter.
Prince Harry faced criticism for “crossing a line” with his remarks about Queen Camilla in his memoir Spare.
In the book, Harry openly discussed his father King Charles’ marriage to Camilla, which took place in 2005, eight years after Princess Diana’s passing. Charles and Diana had separated back in 1992.
Harry’s comments about Queen Camilla were seen as particularly controversial.
In Spare, Harry wrote about Charles’ decision to marry Camilla: “Despite Willy [Prince William] and me urging him not to, Pa was going ahead. We pumped his hand, wished him well. No hard feelings.
“We recognised that he was finally going to be with the woman he loved, the woman he’d always loved.”
Harry shared his thoughts: “I had complex feelings about gaining a step parent who, I believed, had recently sacrificed me on her personal PR altar.
“In a funny way I even wanted Camilla to be happy. Maybe she’d be less dangerous if she was happy?”
The royal family chose not to comment on Harry’s statements or his memoir as a whole.
Now, two years later, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams has spoken about the impact of Harry’s remarks.
He explained to Royal Insider: “Things have not settled down since his allegations in the ill-advised memoir and in interviews promoting it deepened the rift in the royal family and caused the Sussexes to be evicted from Frogmore Cottage.
“His criticism of Queen Camilla was regarded as having crossed a line.”
Royal family has ‘other priorities’ than Harry’s attacks
Richard stated, “However the royal family, with the king and Princess of Wales battling serious illness, have other priorities. The Sussexes have ceased their attacks, for obvious reasons, as it would look appalling at a time like this.”
He continued, “However as we saw in August when William and Harry were both at the Memorial Service for their uncle Lord Fellowes but reportedly didn’t speak, the rift is as wide as ever.
“This was evident on Harry’s last visit to commemorate ten years of Invictus too, when he did not see his father. William has had a ‘brutal’ year and Catherine is prioritising health and her family.”
Richard concluded by saying, “It’s a tough time for the royal family. Obviously they will take note of what happens when Harry is in court later this month but Spare, fortunately not expanded in the paperback edition, though not forgotten or forgiven, must largely be a memory to them.”