Prince Harry’s claims in his autobiography are the “most sensational royal revelations” in nearly 30 years, and will “shake up” the foundations of the monarchy, according to a royal expert.
Michael Cole says Duke of Sussex I metaphorically detonated a “massive land mine” underneath Buckingham Palace With his claims in his book Spear, which appeared after being put on sale by mistake before the release date in Spain.
Mr Cole, a former spokesperson for former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, told Sky News: Princess Dianasat down with the now disgraced BBC Panorama correspondent, Martin Bashir in November 1995.
“Prince Harry in this book doesn’t really blow down the doors of Buckingham Palace, he detonates a huge land mine underneath and shakes the royal edifice and really shakes the British establishment.
Michael Cole
These are very serious allegations and cannot always be ignored.
“It’s tragic in so many ways that he feels he has to score like that, but he clearly does and no one can say he didn’t pull his punches, because he let them.”
Among the claims made by Harry is that his brother, Prince WilliamAnd They threw him to the ground in one rowwhere he landed on a dog bowl.
He also claims that he and his brother asked their father, King Charlesnot to marry Camila After Diana’s death.
Mr Cole said: “Allegations of this nature have to be resolved within the family. Families have disagreements, this cannot be the first family in the world that a newcomer has caused conflict.”
Admitting to using cocaine is a big mistake.
Prince Harry also makes a number of personal revelations in the book, including that he used cocaine and marijuana, lost his virginity in a field and 25 Taliban fighters were killed while serving in Afghanistan.
“He made some serious mistakes in this book, from my point of view,” said Mr. Cole.
Prince Harry in a Spartan armored vehicle in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan in 2008
“Admitting to using cocaine is a big mistake, a big mistake.
“I think it is wrong to admit a crime like this and also to mention the number of people he killed in Afghanistan.
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“This goes against the law of soldiers in every respect and I am sure his fellow officers will not thank him for that.
“He’s painted a target on his back with that. He’s just increased the danger level for his entire family.”
Harry ‘fully embraced commerce’
The book, published by Penguin Randomhouse in a multi-million pound deal, follows the release of the Netflix series Harry and Meghan.
The couple struck a deal with the US broadcasting giant, which is also reportedly worth tens of millions of pounds.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have expressed their desire to become “financially independent” following their decision Retreat from royal duties on the front lines in January 2020.
Prince Harry and his wife Megan during their Netflix series. Pic: NETFLIX
Cole said Prince Harry has “fully embraced commerce”.
His royal status, he said, is just a calling card, and from now on he and his wife are in the business of money.
“I find it difficult to empathize with them because they are such handsome, lovely people with two beautiful children and lots of money… It’s not a bad existence and while some of these complaints are serious, a lot of them are pretty petty.
“Obviously, they feel they should have been forthcoming, but that would mean the end of their former existence.”
The coronation call is a problem
Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have so far declined to comment on the book’s allegations.
They will be set for more coverage in the coming days, as Prince Harry is set to take part in a round of interviews to promote his new book.
It will be one question whether he will attend his father’s coronation, which is scheduled for May this year.
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In an interview with ITV, Prince Harry said: “There’s a lot that can happen between now and then.
“But you know, the door is always open. The ball is in their court.
“There’s a lot that needs to be discussed and I really hope they’re willing to sit down and talk about it.”
Cole said the issue was a “problem” for Harry and Meghan.
He said: “The King has made it clear that they would welcome his coronation but that proves a problem.
“If they accept and come, it leaves them open to claiming hypocrisy and if they decline the invitation they will look a little petty and a little petty and there will be extra pressure on Prince Harry because all the royals are in the abbey on coronation day and he will be required to take an oath of allegiance to the new monarch.”
“The King has played this well and makes it clear that his second son is not an outcast from his point of view.”