‘For William, this was the lowest of the low’: Prince was left furious over Harry’s ‘blatant attack’ against Kate after duke told Netflix documentary royal men ‘marry someone who fits the mould’, new book reveals

Prince William was outraged by Prince Harry’s “blatant attack” on Kate in his younger brother’s Netflix documentary, a new book has revealed.

The Duke of Sussex claimed in the program that, for male members of the Royal Family, “there may be a temptation or urge to marry someone who fits the bill – as opposed to someone you may be destined to marry.” are’.

The obvious inference that Harry was talking about his older brother surprised family friends, according to the new biography ‘Charles III: New King’. New Court. The Inside Story’, by Robert Hardman, published exclusively in the Mail.

One of them said: ‘In addition to all the other breaches of trust, Harry here made a blatant attack on Catherine. For William this was the lowest of the low.’

The book also shows that opinion was divided over whether his comments in December 2022 were really a calculated slight for the new Princess of Wales.

Kate, William, Harry and Meghan in Windsor in September 2022 after the Queen’s death

There were also thoughts that this could be a case of ‘Harry shooting his mouth off’ with another round of scattershot claims and ill-considered accusations.

The staff also says William hopes people will understand and respect that he took his advice about his brother’s repeated attacks, especially regarding Kate.

It comes as the book also revealed that Queen Elizabeth was outraged by Harry and Meghan Markle’s claim that she had given her blessing to their daughter called Lilibet.

A member of her staff says the monarch was ‘as angry as I’ve ever seen her’ after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex publicly stated they would not have used her private family nickname if she had not been ‘supportive’.

The couple even instructed their aggressive law firm, Schillings, to write to news outlets and publishers – particularly the BBC – claiming she had not been asked for permission, were false and defamatory and should not be repeated.

But when the Sussexes tried to ‘co-opt’ Buckingham Palace to ‘support’ their version of events, they were ‘rebuffed’.

The illuminating revelation comes in the latest installment of a fascinating new biography – Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, by Robert Hardman, published exclusively in the Mail.

A remarkable memo has already been revealed about the late queen’s last moments, now in the Royal Archives, in which her private secretary recorded that she had ‘slipped away’ peacefully – but not before filling out her last box of paperwork and sealing two had left letters. one addressed to her son and heir.

Charles, Harry and Anne on the day of the Queen’s funeral in Windsor in September 2022

Harry and Meghan sit behind William and Kate in Westminster Abbey in London in March 2020

In today’s episode, Hardman explores the fallout following the Sussexes’ decision to bitterly step down from their royal duties and the ongoing issues surrounding Prince Andrew, including how:

• Prince William felt his brother’s attacks on his wife Kate – especially the suggestion that male members of the royal family simply marry women who ‘fit the model’ – were ‘the lowest of the low’;
• The prince was also ‘mortified’ by Harry’s ‘casual betrayal’ of brotherly secrets in his memoir, Spare;
• Neither King Charles nor William has read Spare, or ever will, but the staff briefed them on ‘the main points’;
• Charles was deeply hurt by Harry’s actions, but has learned to compartmentalize domestic trauma;
• He now feels ‘annoyed’ about the situation – ‘He did what he could and now he is king, there are many more things to think about,’ says a friend;
• However, he insists the door is always open for his youngest son. “You would always want your child back,” says a senior official.

In conversations with members of the royal family, friends and palace staff past and present, Hardman’s insights into Harry’s relationships with family members are fascinating.

In 2021, his and Meghan’s decision to welcome their new daughter Lilibet, who was born in California and has only been to Britain briefly once, raised eyebrows.

Lilibet was the late Queen’s affectionate childhood nickname, which is said to have arisen because Princess Elizabeth could never pronounce her name correctly as a child. It was only used by her parents, King George VI, the Queen Mother and her sister Princess Margaret, as well as her husband, Prince Philip, and a handful of close friends.

Harry and William in July 2021 at the unveiling of a statue of their mother at Kensington Palace

William, Harry, Meghan and Charles speak together at Westminster Abbey in March 2019

At the time, the BBC reported that a palace source had said the Queen had not been asked by the Duke and Duchess if they could use the name.

Other sources told the media, including the Mail, that although the Queen received calls from her grandson and his wife, she felt she was not in a position to say no.

But the Sussexes’ spokesman insisted the couple would not have used the name if the Queen had not been ‘supportive’.

They said at the time: ‘The Duke spoke to his family ahead of the announcement – in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called.

During that conversation, he shared their hopes to name their daughter Lilibet in her honor. If she hadn’t supported her, they wouldn’t have used the name.”

Strongly worded legal letters were then sent.

Hardman writes that some of the late monarch’s household were particularly “interested” that, amid a wealth of private family information and criticism of staff members, Harry mysteriously “omitted” the entire incident from his memoirs.

The author says: ‘One person privately recalled that Elizabeth II was ‘as angry as I had ever seen her’ in 2021, after the Sussexes announced she had given them the blessing to name their baby daughter ‘Lilibet’.

‘The couple subsequently fired off warnings of legal action against anyone who dared to suggest otherwise, as the BBC had done. However, when the Sussexes tried to co-opt the palace to support their version of events, they were rebuffed.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with their children Archie and Lilibet in December 2021

“Once again it was a case of ‘memories may vary’ – the late Queen’s response to the Oprah Winfrey interview – as far as Her Majesty was concerned.

“Those vociferous threats of legal action have disappeared and the defamation actions against the BBC never materialized.”

On Harry’s relationship with his father, Hardman quotes a friend: ‘Of course the king is extremely sad about Harry and Meghan, but there is a sense of annoyance, that he has done what he could and now he is king, there are many other things . to think about.

‘He tried to listen. Now he just says, ‘I don’t want to know what the problem is. I’m just going to get on with my life.’

Elsewhere, Hardman praises Harry for showing respect at the end of the coronation. He notes that when the congregation bowed to the king after the ceremony, the Duke of Sussex dropped his head “longer than most.”