Prince Harry reveals royal who first called him ‘spare’ – and he’s ‘resented’ it since

Prince Harry opened up about his difficulties with accepting his role within the Royal Family in his autobiography.

prince harry in darks suit close up

Prince Harry resented being referred to as the family’s spare (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry has revealed the origins of his rather harsh nickname ‘Spare’, much to the surprise of royal enthusiasts worldwide.

The Duke of Sussex disclosed in a recently unearthed excerpt from his memoir that it was allegedly his father, King Charles, who first referred to him in such terms.

This came about when Princess Diana gave birth to a second son, prompting Charles to exclaim: “Wonderful! Now you’ve given me an heir and a spare – my work is done.”

The Guardian newspaper highlighted Prince Harry’s longstanding resentment towards his nickname, which he expressed in his memoir. The publication stated: “Harry’s resentment of being the ‘spare’ is the underlying theme of his book, through chapters on his childhood, his schooling, his career as a royal and in the British Army, his relationship with his parents and brother, and his life with Meghan through courtship, wedding and marriage, to their own experience of parenthood.”

Despite the difficult relationship he has had with the royals in recent years, he appears to be eager to bury the hatchet with the King.

king charles black background speaks in mic

The King allegedly first used the nickname right after Harry was born. (Image: Getty)

The Duke of Sussex has been open about his desire to mend the strained relationship with his father.

However, the pair did not meet during Harry’s last visit to the UK in May as he attended celebrations for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games whilst his father hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

During his previous visit, Harry was granted a brief 30-minute meeting with his father, who was about to commence his cancer treatment.

Despite the short duration, Harry was reportedly grateful for the opportunity to see him.

Harry’s strained relationship with the royals also extends to his older brother Prince William, to whom he dedicated an extensive section of his memoir.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

In the book, he claimed the pair shared a difficult relationship from a young age which was exacerbated by William’s alleged demand Harry “slow down” his relationship with Meghan Markle.

But a royal insider has suggested that Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales are making efforts to mend fences with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Royal author Tom Quinn told The Mirror: “There has been a shift here since Kate’s illness Harry and Meghan do feel they need to extend an olive branch, but Meghan’s sense of grievance is still preventing anything really meaningful from happening.

“Illness often brings warring family members together, and there have been hopes at Kensington Palace that Kate’s illness might do it.

“Harry would like a reconciliation, but supports his wife completely and until she feels that the Royal Family have been sufficiently nice to her and grovellingly apologised for the past – it’s not going to happen.”

Related Posts

Sergio Perez Now Faces a Significant New Obstacle in His Bid to Secure a Seat with Cadillac for the 2026 Formula 1 Season, Raising Doubts About His Future in the Sport as This Challenge Could Have Serious Implications for His Prospects in the Highly Competitive F1 World.

Sergio Perez would have been looking on at what’s happening at Red Bull Racing this week with great interest after losing his seat on the grid at…

Helmut Marko has issued an official statement regarding the future of Red Bull Racing, providing insights into the team’s plans following the shock removal of Christian Horner from his position. The decision has sent ripples throughout the Formula 1 world, and Marko’s comments aim to clarify Red Bull’s next moves.

Photo: © IMAGO Red Bull F1 advisor Helmut Marko has opened up on the team’s future following the shock dismissal of Christian Horner. Horner was removed from his…

The FIA’s Penalty Controversy That Cost Oscar Piastri a Well-Deserved Win: An In-Depth Look at the Decision That Shook the Racing World.

Lando Norris Triumphs at Silverstone, but Was Oscar Piastri’s 10-Second Penalty Fair? The 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone was a spectacle, with Lando Norris emerging victorious…

Christian Horner ‘Convinced’ Ferrari Move Depends on One Key Factor as Scuderia Targets Red Bull’s Ex-Chief.

Christian Horner might not have to wait long to receive offers to return to Formula 1 after Red Bull Racing sacked the Briton from his role as…

Ferrari Finally Opens Up About the Shocking and Unexpected Challenges Behind Their Struggles in Formula 1, Revealing the Complex Factors That Have Contributed to Their Ongoing Performance Issues, and What They Plan to Do to Overcome These Obstacles and Return to Their Former Glory in the F1 World.

Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 Season: The Road to Recovery The 2025 Formula 1 season has been a year of highs and lows for Scuderia Ferrari, with the…

The Surprising Impact of Christian Horner’s Red Bull Decision: Why George Russell May Lose the Most

The news that Red Bull Racing have parted ways with team principal Christian Horner took the Formula 1 world by surprise on Wednesday morning. Red Bull and Christian Horner are…