The bitter rift between the Duke of Sussex and the heir to the throne has been thrown back into the spotlight. A new bombshell biography directly challenges Prince Harry’s explosive claim that he was physically attacked by his brother, Prince William, during a furious 2019 argument.
The book, titled William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era by royal editor Russell Myers, relies on palace insiders to dispute the version of events Harry laid bare in his 2023 memoir, Spare.
The original claim, which sent shockwaves through the monarchy, saw Harry describe a confrontation at his London home, Nottingham Cottage. He alleged that William, angered by Harry’s defense of Meghan Markle, grabbed him by the collar, ripped his necklace, and threw him to the floor, causing him to land on and crack a dog’s bowl.
However, sources speaking for this new biography—published in the UK on February 16, 2026—paint a starkly different picture. They acknowledge that tensions were high and that “cross words” were exchanged, but they vehemently deny that the argument ever turned physical.
One source close to the Prince of Wales dismissed Harry’s detailed account as “massively overblown” and a “cheap shot,” insisting William was “adamant there was no physical violence.”
The biography goes further, seeking to contextualize William’s state of mind during that period. Sources cited in the book suggest the future king wasn’t simply reacting to tabloid gossip but was genuinely distressed by reports of Meghan’s treatment of palace staff, claiming that the atmosphere had become so untenable that several employees had left their posts.
This latest salvo in the ongoing royal saga represents a familiar pattern: the use of anonymous palace sources to counter the narrative put forth by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Harry has been highly critical of this tactic in the past, accusing palace aides of leaking stories to the press rather than addressing conflicts directly. While promoting Spare, he stated that every attempt at private conversation was met with “briefings and leaks” against him and Meghan.
With the U.S. release of Myers’ book scheduled for March 10, 2026, the timing raises inevitable questions about whether this is a concerted effort to rehabilitate William’s image amid the lingering fallout from his brother’s accusations. What is certain is that this fresh dispute ensures the painful chapter of the brothers’ fractured relationship remains firmly in the public eye.
About the Author
