Prince Harry recently revealed troubling feelings about his niece and nephew, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, which reportedly left them in tears. According to Harry, he fears that out of Prince William’s three children—George, Charlotte, and Louis—at least one might end up “like me, the spare,” referencing his own position in the line of succession.
In his memoir "Spare," Harry shares that from birth, he was seen as the "spare" to Prince William, the heir, a role filled with expectations but also feelings of being sidelined. He recounts that King Charles made a remark to Princess Diana at Harry’s birth: "Wonderful! Now you’ve given me an heir and a spare—my work is done." This characterization deeply affected Harry throughout his life.
Harry expressed concern that similarly, either Charlotte or Louis might suffer the same experience he did: being the secondary figure rather than the main heir. This admission shows Harry's deep-seated fears about the pressures and roles royal children face and highlights his perceived emotional struggles with the royal family’s hierarchy.
Experts suggest that William and Kate Middleton work hard to nurture a strong bond among their children, avoiding the pitfalls Harry warned about. Still, his assertion appeared to cast a shadow over the siblings, reportedly upsetting Charlotte and Louis, who are too young to fully grasp the complex family dynamics but sensitive to the emotional weight in Harry's words.
This revelation adds depth to the ongoing narrative of strain within the royal family, especially between Harry and William, and underscores the psychological impact of royal roles on younger generations. It also highlights Harry’s enduring vulnerability and the emotional toll of his “spare” label, reverberating through his relationship with his royal nephews and nieces.