Prince Harry has revealed a poignant private exchange with his brother, the Prince of Wales, where he expressed deep-seated anxieties about the future roles of Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis within the monarchy. The Duke of Sussex, who famously titled his memoir Spare, described reaching out to Prince William out of concern that his niece and nephew could experience the same struggles he faced as the younger royal sibling.
The Confrontation and William's Clear Response
In a candid discussion, Harry recounted the moment he voiced his worries to his older brother. Describing himself as "someone who likes to fix things", he told The Telegraph in January 2026 that he felt compelled to address what he saw as a harmful pattern. "If I see wrongdoing and a pattern of behaviour that is harming people, I will do everything I can to try and change it," he stated, extending this concern to the other 'spares' in the family line.
However, Prince William's reported response was unequivocal. Harry disclosed that William "made it very clear" that his children were not Harry's responsibility. Despite this firm boundary, Harry admitted the worry persists. "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," he confessed.
The Historic Weight of the 'Spare' Title
In his book, Harry elaborated on the emotional burden of his designated role, which he called "the shadow, the support, the Plan B." He wrote that he was "brought into the world in case something happened to Willy". He further claimed the term was used matter-of-factly within his family, recalling an anecdote where King Charles reportedly told Princess Diana on the day of Harry's birth: "Wonderful! Now you've given me an heir and a spare — my work is done."
The dynamics of succession for Prince William's children are historically unique. Thanks to the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which removed male primogeniture, Princess Charlotte retains her place as third in line to the throne ahead of her younger brother, Prince Louis. This legal change means both children technically hold the 'spare' position behind their elder brother, Prince George.
A New Era for the Wales Children?
Despite Harry's personal fears, royal experts suggest Charlotte and Louis are unlikely to face an identical fate. Ailsa Anderson, former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, noted in a Channel 5 documentary that George, Charlotte, and Louis are being raised as equals. "This is the key to unpacking and shifting expectations of our heirs and spares," she added, suggesting the younger Wales children have more freedom than previous generations.
Royal author Phil Dampier echoed this sentiment, telling Fabulous that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are acutely aware of not letting Charlotte and Louis live in George's shadow. "The way things are going Charlotte and Louis may have major roles in the future. Certainly the royal family will need them as they are getting thin on the ground," Dampier said. He also pointed out a key difference: "Prince Harry always felt like 'The Spare' but perhaps that won't happen with Charlotte and Louis as there are two of them and they will support each other, as well as George."
The revelation highlights the enduring personal impact of royal birth order, while also underscoring the conscious efforts being made to modernise the upbringing of the future king's siblings.
