Prince Harry has opened up about a tense conversation with his brother, the Prince of Wales, where he expressed deep concerns for the future wellbeing of his niece and nephew, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The Duke of Sussex, who famously titled his memoir Spare, revealed he feared the younger Wales children could experience the same isolation he felt as the 'spare to the heir'.
The Confrontation and William's Clear Response
In a candid interview with The Telegraph in January 2026 to promote his book, Harry described himself as "someone who likes to fix things". He explained his motivation for raising the sensitive issue, stating: "If I see wrongdoing and a pattern of behaviour that is harming people, I will do everything I can to try and change it."
Harry claimed his worry extended to the other 'spares' in the family line, telling the newspaper: "As I know full well, within my family, if it's not us [pointing to himself] it's going to be someone else."
Prince William's reported reply was unequivocal. Harry recounted that his elder brother "made it very clear" that his children were not Harry's responsibility. Despite this, Harry admitted the anxiety persisted. "I still feel a responsibility knowing that out of those three children, at least one will end up like me, the spare," he said. "And that hurts, that worries me."
The Weight of the 'Spare' Title
In his memoir, Harry elaborated on the psychological burden of his role, describing it as "the shadow, the support, the Plan B". He wrote that he was "brought into the world in case something happened to Willy".
He further claimed the term was used matter-of-factly within his family, including by his parents and the late Queen. He recalled an anecdote where his father, King Charles III, allegedly said to Princess Diana on the day of Harry's birth: "Wonderful! Now you've given me an heir and a spare — my work is done."
The dynamics of succession for George, Charlotte, and Louis differ due to the Succession to the Crown Act 2013. This legislation ended male primogeniture, meaning Princess Charlotte retains her place as third in line to the throne ahead of her younger brother, Prince Louis. Previously, Louis would have superseded her simply because he is male.
Why Experts Believe History Won't Repeat Itself
Royal commentators suggest the upbringing of the Wales children is deliberately designed to avoid the pitfalls of the past. Ailsa Anderson, former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, noted in a Channel 5 documentary that George, Charlotte, and Louis are being raised as equals.
"This is the key to unpacking and shifting expectations of our heirs and spares," Anderson stated. "The kids have more freedom and choices than their father."
Royal author Phil Dampier echoed this sentiment, telling Fabulous magazine that the Prince and Princess of Wales are acutely aware of not letting Charlotte and Louis live in George's shadow. "He (George) is the future King but the way things are going Charlotte and Louis may have major roles in the future," Dampier said.
He added a crucial point of difference from Harry's experience: "Prince Harry always felt like 'The Spare' but perhaps that won't happen with Charlotte and Louis as there are two of them and they will support each other, as well as George."
This perspective highlights a fundamental shift in approach, suggesting that the modern monarchy may be forging a new path for its younger members, one defined by mutual support rather than solitary confinement to a singular, rigid role.
