A former royal aide has shared memories of his time serving Princes William and Harry, revealing stark differences in their personalities as young men. Grant Harrold, who worked as a butler for King Charles from 2004 to 2011, recounted his experiences in his new book The Royal Butler.
Speaking about his role, Harrold explained that one of his main motivations for joining the household was to be of help to Charles’ sons, who were 21 and 19 at the time. Harrold described his first meeting with Prince William, recalling the future king’s calm and approachable demeanor.
“One of the reasons I had wanted to work for Prince Charles was to be a help for his sons, William and Harry, who were twenty-one and nineteen at the time, and it wasn’t long before I met the young princess,” Harrold wrote. He noted that William’s voice was “so deep and authoritative” while also reflecting a down-to-earth nature.
At the time, William was in his fourth year at university and had just returned to the palace in May. “They exchanged greetings and introduced each other. When the staffer asked how he should address Prince William, he politely replied, ‘William. My name’s William.’”
Harrold said William was “very friendly, polite, and straight to the point.” Days later, Harrold met Prince Harry in a very different way. “I was in the kitchen one day, having a conversation with the chef, when someone appeared at the door and, without warning, threw a water balloon at me,” he wrote to Radar online.
“I did a double-take. ‘OK,’ I thought, so this is happening… Prince Harry has just arrived home, and I’m getting a water balloon thrown at me.” Harrold recounted dodging the first balloon only to see Harry preparing to launch another.
He dove into the larder and eventually climbed through a small fly-screened window to escape. When they finally came face-to-face, Harry offered an apology. “I’m just being a bit silly,” he said, according to Harrold.
The anecdotes paint a picture of William as grounded and respectful, while Harry displayed a more mischievous side in his youth. Harrold’s stories add another layer to the public’s understanding of the princes during their early adulthood, years before they took on the more serious roles and responsibilities now associated with their names.