Prince Harry insists he has no regrets over spare, leaving William facing a painful reality

Prince Harry has reignited tensions within the royal family after declaring he has no regrets over the criticisms he levelled at his relatives in his memoir, Spare. In a candid interview during his surprise trip to war-torn Ukraine, the Duke of Sussex insisted his “conscience is clear,” a defiant stance that experts warn will leave Prince William struggling with a bitter reality.

The 41-year-old duke had returned to Britain last week for a four-day visit packed with engagements close to his heart. It marked his first reunion with his father, King Charles, in over a year. Their meeting, which lasted 55 minutes, was described by Harry only as an opportunity to keep his father as “the focus.” But if his comments about reconciliation with the monarch appeared conciliatory, his unyielding defence of Spare carried far more explosive undertones.

Speaking to the Guardian, Harry dismissed any suggestion he regretted publishing the tell-all memoir. He described it as “a series of corrections to stories already out there,” making clear he has no intention of retracting its searing accounts. He added: “Meghan has taught me that telling the truth is the most efficient way to live. My conscience is clear.”

Royal experts believe this stance deepens the rift with his elder brother. Dr Tessa Dunlop, author and historian, told the Mirror that Harry’s determination to stand by his book “guarantees complications” in the already fractured relationship with William. “Harry said he regrets nothing. That is a bitter pill to swallow for anyone in the crosshairs of the book,” she explained. “He clearly feels safer ground with Charles, but for William the fallout is brutal.”

During his UK stopover, Harry appeared at ease, drawing crowds and even joking over “banging” jerk chicken. Observers noted how his charisma and empathy reminded many Britons of the prince they felt had been lost in the years of acrimony. Then came what Dunlop called his “pièce de résistance”: a sudden trip to Kyiv, where Harry met officials and reaffirmed his commitment to service. Tying his visit to the Invictus Games and his military past, the duke presented himself as both soldier and statesman, winning praise for lending his profile to a nation still in the grip of conflict.

Yet beneath the applause, the shadow of Spare loomed. In the book, Harry detailed bitter clashes with his brother, describing William as volatile and recounting a physical altercation between them. He also accused royal courtiers of briefing against him and Meghan, claims that rocked the institution when first published in 2023. While criticism of the King was comparatively mild, the book left William exposed in a way that still reverberates two years later.

Harry’s comments last week made clear that no olive branch would be offered on this front. To him, the autobiography remains not a betrayal but a redress of falsehoods. To William, who has never publicly responded to the allegations, it is a wound that continues to fester. Experts suggest this entrenched divide may now be permanent, with reconciliation between the brothers appearing increasingly out of reach.

Harry himself insisted he wanted to spend more time in the UK and reiterated his love for the country. He told reporters: “I have always loved the UK and I always will love the UK.” But by choosing to double down on his memoir, he ensured that any path back into the royal fold will be strewn with obstacles.

As the duke embraces a new dawn, balancing charitable commitments, royal ties and global advocacy, the price of his truth-telling appears to be his relationship with his brother. For William, the reality is stark: every step forward Harry takes seems only to deepen the gulf between them