Veteran royal photographer Arthur Edwards has recalled a moment when a royal staff member made a heartbreaking comment to a young Prince Harry, who was only two years old at the time.
In an interview with The Telegraph ahead of the release of his new book, Cup of Tea, Arthur? My Extraordinary 50 Years Photographing the Royal Family, Edwards shared that while the royal nanny was "making a fuss" of then four-year-old Prince William, another staff member was with then two-year-old Harry.
Incident on a Norfolk beach in 1986
The incident happened while the family was on a beach in Norfolk in 1986, leaving a protection officer to help Harry make sandcastles. Edwards recalled the staff member saying to Harry: "Come here, Harry. I'll build you a sandcastle," adding: "It's the only bleeding castle you're ever likely to get."
Edwards's memory appears to echo Harry's previous comments about growing up alongside William. In his book, titled Spare, Harry discussed what it was like to be his brother's 'spare'.
Harry's own words on being the 'spare'
In a heartbreaking entry, he wrote: "There was no judgment about it, but also no ambiguity." In a blunt nine-word remark, he added: "I was the shadow, the support, the Plan B."
The prince continued: "I was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy. I was summoned to provide backup, distraction, diversion and, if necessary, a spare part. Kidney, perhaps. Blood transfusion. Speck of bone marrow."
"This was all made explicitly clear to me from the start of life's journey and regularly reinforced thereafter."
Photographer's views on Harry's children
While praising Harry in the interview, describing him as a "born comedian and mimic", the photographer also shared that he began reading Spare but didn't finish it due to his frustration with its "factual errors".
The photographer also spoke about Harry's two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, saying he believes the children should receive royal protection now that they live in the UK. Harry, 42, and Meghan Markle, 45, made the decision to return to the UK in August, with their children now enrolled at a British school.
Referring to Archie and Lilibet, now aged seven and five, as "a prince and princess of the House of Windsor", he added: "What were they doing in Montecito going to an American school, when they should be here playing with their cousins?"
"They should be getting to run around Balmoral and Windsor," he added. Edwards then added: "They should get royal protection because if they were kidnapped, there would be uproar."
Harry and Meghan returned to the UK in August, with the family of four now thought to be residing somewhere in the Cotswolds. They made their first joint public appearance since their return on October 15, undertaking three separate visits in Nottingham.
As the couple made their way to their first visit of the day, the city's Community Recording Studio (CRS), between 150 and 200 people arrived to warmly welcome them. The local community charity offers various youth development programmes.
The couple then moved into their second visit: the Himmah Hub, a community action group addressing food poverty in Nottingham. The couple finally made their way to Epic Partners in Nottingham, their last stop of the day.
