Prince William’s three-word code to brother Harry that left prince stunned
Prince Harry went into great detail about the demise of his relationship with older brother Prince William in Spare - including the moment the future King used the siblings' 'secret code'
Prince Harry certainly raised eyebrows with the release of his tell-all book, Spare. In the controversial memoir, he detailed the downfall of his relationship with Prince William – and sent shockwaves around the world with his claims, which included an alleged physical fight between the royal siblings.
He also shared his recollections of a heated argument as Harry, William and their father Charles took a walk together near Frogmore Cottage following Prince Philip’s funeral on April 17, 2021.
The trio were discussing the explosive interview he and Meghan Markle had given to Oprah Winfrey just one month earlier. According to Harry, he was trying to address bullying allegations that were being made against Meghan, but his father and brother “weren’t listening”.
According to Harry, William was “really steaming” and grasped at him as he tried to walk away. “I waved a hand, disgusted, but he lunged, grabbed my shirt. ‘Listen to me, Harold,”‘ Harry wrote in his book. “I pulled away, refused to meet his gaze. He forced me to look into his eyes. ‘Listen to me, Harold, listen! I love you, Harold! I want you to be happy.”‘
Harry claims he replied: “I love you too…but your stubbornness is extraordinary!” The Duke then apparently tried to pull away, but William “grabbed him again” and “twisted him” so the pair could maintain eye contact.
According to Harry, William then evoked the brother’s so-called ‘secret code’ and swore on Princess Diana’s life that his intentions were genuine. He wrote that William said: “Harold, you must listen to me! I just want you to be happy, Harold. I swear I swear on Mummy’s life.”
“He stopped. I stopped. Pa stopped. He’d gone there. He’d used the secret code, the universal password. Ever since we were boys those three words were to be used only in times of extreme crisis. For nearly twenty-five years we’d reserved that soul-crushing vow for times when one of us needed to be heard, to be believed quickly. For times when nothing else would do.”
