Prince Harry warned Kate Middleton and her husband, Prince William, about the non-family-friendly aspect of the monarchy.
In an interview with the Telegraph, the Duke of Sussex shared his concerns about the traditional “heir and the spare dynamics,” which refer to the primary and secondary roles of the children of Prince William and Kate Middleton in the Royal Family.
The worried uncle stated: “Though William and I have talked about it once or twice, and he has made it very clear to me that his kids are not my responsibility, I still feel a responsibility knowing that out of those three children, at least one will end up like me, the spare. And that hurts, that worries me.”
Prince Harry wrote in his bombshell memoir, Spare: “I was the shadow, the support, the Plan B. I was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy. My family had declared me a nullity—the Spare. I didn’t complain about it, but I didn’t need to dwell on it either. Far better, in my mind, not to think about certain facts… but no one gave a damn whom I traveled with; the Spare could always be spared.”
And according to a recent leak, the future King and Queen of England have more than ever understood where Prince Harry was coming from.
Despite their anger at Prince Harry’s choice of platform to discuss his niece and nephews, the royal couple shares his concern for Princess Charlotte‘s protection. While they know that according to royal protocol, she is the secondborn, or the “spare,” they are determined to ensure she is shielded from unnecessary pressure.
This week, numerous royal sources from Buckingham and Kensington Palaces have come forward to portray Princess Charlotte, a mere 10-year-old, as a resilient, loyal, and strong “spare.”
Staffers, who worked with the Royal Family, explained that she is wise beyond her age, dependable, and hardworking, like her great aunt, Princess Anne.
In 2024, Princess Anne once more earned the title of the hardest-working member of the Royal Family despite suffering a horrific head injury, being concussed, and being hospitalized for over a week.
PEOPLE Magazine now claims that Princess Charlotte will support Prince George when he takes the throne, as Princess Anne has been doing all her life for King Charles III.
A source revealed to PEOPLE: “Like her great-aunt Princess Anne, who is often dubbed the hardest-working royal, Charlotte already seems to grasp the rhythm of royal life. But that maturity was forged in private, during early childhood years often spent at the family’s country home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk — a quiet, close-knit base where William and Kate built their family away from the spotlight. That strong foundation has helped shape Charlotte’s close bond with George and Louis. No one else knows what it’s like to grow up in the U.K.’s foremost family. It’s a shared, lived experience for them.”
The insider explained that Princess Charlotte also has a great sense of duty and is willing to carry the weight of the monarchy on her shoulders when she gets older.
The source stated: “She’s a natural and has taken to royal events like a duck to water. She’s also known for keeping her brothers in line during official events. You can definitely see the traits of her great-grandmother. The practical common sense is not camera—grabbing but solid and responsible.”
It was also revealed: “She is quite a strong character. Almost wise beyond her years. It’s truly her personality — it’s not forced. She looks very confident and at ease with herself and the environment she’s in. The maturity that comes with that responsibility—she seems to nail it every time.”
The insider explained to PEOPLE: “I think George will always be able to rely on her. Much like Princess Anne to King Charles, she will be dependable and a great asset to him.”
Social media erupted, with many baffled by the pressure on such a young girl. Backers of the Royal Family slammed the report, and a few pointed out that Prince Harry was indeed on to something when he said that Princess Charlotte should be free from the stigma and pressure of being a spare.
Insiders have revealed that Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prince William are fully aware of the report and their only daughter’s expectations and are determined to protect her.
Via PEOPLE and Page Six, it was confirmed: “Prince William and Kate Middleton are protecting their daughter, Princess Charlotte, from the struggles Prince Harry has endured as the “spare” heir to the British throne.”
Royal biographer Robert Hardman told PEOPLE: “Prince William must prepare — not only for himself to become king one day but also to make the royal existence approachable and not scary for all his children.”
Prince William and Princess Kate boldly decided to modernize the traditional monarchy. This means that Princess Charlotte will be free to lead a normal life, pursue her chosen career, and shape her destiny.
She will not be in her brother’s shadow and will not be expected to be his constant support system.
