Prince Harry opens up about 'Spare' nickname given to him by King Charles
Prince Harry opens up about 'Spare' nickname given to him by King Charles
Alycia McNamara, Niti Majethia Sat, September 5, 2026 at 5:34 PM UTC
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Prince Harry resented the nickname "spare" (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry has disclosed his feelings about a nickname his father, King Charles, bestowed upon him. Conveying his displeasure, the prince made several critical claims about existence within The Firm in his autobiography, Spare.
The book's title refers to an incident following Princess Diana's delivery of Prince Harry. At that moment, King Charles purportedly remarked, "Wonderful! Now you've given me an heir and a spare-my work is done."
Harry asserted the label persisted and was ultimately employed by senior royals throughout his lifetime, including his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. The prince, who has lately returned to the UK, disliked the moniker.
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The Guardian newspaper emphasized Prince Harry's long-held resentment toward his nickname, which he articulated in his autobiography.
The publication noted, "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."
The pair have made attempts to reconcile in recent years, with Harry visiting the king this July (Image: Getty)
Despite the strained relationship he has experienced with the royals in recent years, he seems willing to reconcile with the King.
Harry and Charles' relationship remains volatile, but the pair have recently reconnected, though many specifics of the encounter remain undisclosed.
Prince Harry traveled to the UK this July for a visit marking the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games, scheduled to take place in Birmingham in 2027.
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Prince Harry was born in 1984 (Image: Getty)
The five-day trip included a private reunion between father and son at Highgrove House.
Harry was accompanied by his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Queen Camilla was also present.
It marked the first occasion the King had seen his grandchildren in four years.
Prince Harry did not meet with his brother, Prince William, during the visit. His relationship with the royals, especially with his brother Prince William, remains strained - a subject Harry explores in detail within his memoir.
Harry describes longstanding tensions and disputes between the brothers, including William's urging that Harry proceed more cautiously with Meghan Markle.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now reportedly remaining in the UK for what has been described as an "extended" stay.
Harry and Meghan's children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, will begin school in Britain this month. The former Royals arrived in Britain on August 26, and rumors have swirled that the couple is living in the Cotswolds with their children.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also kept a low profile since arriving in the UK, and so far, there has been no sign of a public reunion with the wider Royal Family.
Prince Harry has previously expressed how he would be open to reconciliation. He told the BBC in May 2025, "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore."
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
