Prince Harry says William knocked him down over Meghan
STORY: Britain's Prince Harry has claimed that his older brother, Prince William, knocked him to the floor in a 2019 row over his wife Meghan.
That's according to Prince Harry's much-awaited memoir, which went on sale days early in Spain.
The book, "Spare", was due to be published on January 10.
But Reuters and other media have been able to obtain copies from Spanish bookshops.
In the book, Harry says that heir to the throne William, quote, "grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor."
Harry claims he then "landed on the dog's bowl" which cracked under his back and cut into him.
He says he "lay there for a moment, dazed", before getting to his feet and insisting William leave.
William then challenged his younger brother to hit back, but Harry refused.
According to the memoir, William later returned to the scene, "looking regretful, and apologized" and asked Harry not to tell Meghan that he had "attacked" him.
The brawl was reportedly sparked after William called Meghan "difficult," "rude" and "abrasive."
A spokesperson for the Spanish publisher, said: "A very clear launch protocol was established... so that the book would not be marketed before that date.
"Everything points to the fact that some customers have breached their commitment to the publisher."
Spokespeople for both King Charles and Prince William have declined to comment on the events.
On the streets of London, Harry's remarks received a mixed reception.
“Who knows, what I what I am aware of is that you've got Harry and Meghan are making tens of millions of pounds washing their dirty laundry. Their family, laundry in public and I think it's shocking. Because no matter what happens amongst a family, do you really want to broadcast it to the world as they do?”
“I don't really care. So, you know, I don't really care at all. I think. At the same time, if if something happens with a public body, you know, like the royal family is, then people should know I guess.”
William and Harry were once seen as very close after the death of their mother, Princess Diana, in a Paris car crash in 1997.
But the brothers have fallen out since Harry married Meghan, a former actress, in 2018, and stepped down from royal duties to move to California two years later.
The main criticism from Harry and Meghan is that royal aides not only refused to hit back at hostile, inaccurate press coverage, but were complicit in leaking negative stories to protect other royals, most notably William.
"Spare" - the title of his book - comes from a well-known quote in British aristocratic circles about the need for two children - an heir, and a spare.
