Prince William was reportedly not too happy when he heard about Prince Harry’s idea for the Invictus Games.
In ‘Spare’, his much-anticipated memoir, Harry claims William had a jealous reaction when he heard his brother’s idea for the annual sporting event to benefit wounded, injured and ill military and veterans.
“He seemed extremely irritated,” the former military pilot wrote in his book, released January 10, saying William had complained it would drain funds from their foundation.
Harry, 38, called his brother’s problem ‘absurd’ and explained that the funding would come from the Endeavor Fund, a branch he ‘created specifically for veteran rehabilitation’, as well as donors.
The Duke of Sussex blamed the then 40-year-old’s reluctance on their ‘sibling rivalry’.
Prince Harry has accused Prince William of being “irritated” by the idea of the Invictus Games.
Prince Harry has accused Prince William of being “irritated” by the idea of the Invictus Games.
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Prince Harry has accused Prince William of being “irritated” by the idea of the Invictus Games.
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He remembers: “I covered my eyes with my hands. Didn’t we get past that? All that Heir versus Substitute stuff? Weren’t we a little too old for this tiresome childish dynamic?
“He was married and had a baby on the way,” Harry continues. “Meanwhile, I was ordering food alone and doing my dishes at the sink. My father’s sink! I always lived with my father, [King Charles III]. The game is over, man. You win.”
The annual sporting event launched in 2014.
The annual sporting event launched in 2014.
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The annual sporting event launched in 2014.
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The tense sibling dynamic of the duo is a heavily reiterated theme throughout the tome.
In the memoirs, Harry even refers to the Prince of Wales as both his “beloved brother and nemesis”.
In Harry’s New Memoirs
Michael Strahan asked the California royal family about these “strong words” in a music video released Thursdayfour days before the duo’s “Good Morning America” interview airs.
“There’s always been this competition between us, weirdly,” the Duke of Sussex replied. “I think it really plays or is always played by the heir [and] spare [labels].”
Harry alleges his father played into the dynamic, accusing King Charles of calling him a “spare” on the day he was born.