A royal expert has taken aim at Prince Harry’s portrayal of himself as the “spare” in his widely discussed memoir, Spare, accusing the Duke of Sussex of building a public identity rooted in resentment rather than reality. In her newly released book My Mother and I, royal biographer Ingrid Seward directly challenges Harry’s self-characterization, stating that he has allowed the notion of being the backup to Prince William to define his entire life.
Seward writes, “That is completely untrue,” in response to Harry’s claim in his memoir: “I was the shadow, the support, the Plan B. I was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy.” In Spare, Harry continues, “I was summoned to provide back up, distraction, diversion, and, if necessary, a ‘spare’ part. Kidney perhaps. Blood transfusion. Speck of bone marrow.”
Seward firmly refutes this narrative, arguing that it reflects Harry’s personal perspective rather than any factual royal plan. “That is completely untrue, of course, but it was how Harry chose to see it and allow it to dominate his life to the extent that he would eventually make a career out of it,” she wrote.
She goes further, accusing the Duke of adopting a “victim mentality” and using it as a platform to air grievances against his family, the press, and legal institutions. “He chooses to be a victim and wreak vengeance on the slights he thought he had suffered; on his family; on the press and through the courts,” Seward stated.
While acknowledging that being second in line to the throne may have created emotional complexities for Harry, Seward believes his focus on perceived injustices has hindered his ability to move on. “He would play the fool and get away with childish antics such as standing behind visitors and pulling funny faces behind their backs to make William laugh when he had to meet them,” she noted.
Seward recalled that Harry’s behavior, though often mischievous, was met with affection. “Both Charles and Diana were amused rather than annoyed by his antics, and even the Queen, so critical of William in his infancy, regarded Harry with grandmotherly tolerance,” she added.
Harry reportedly recognized his position from a young age. Seward recounts a moment when, at just nine years old, he turned to William and said, “You’re going to be King; it doesn’t matter what I do.” The critique adds to the ongoing debate over Harry’s tell-all memoir and the rift it has deepened within the royal family.