Prince Harry has hinted that his memories weren’t always the sharpest – although he also said his versions of events in his explosive memoir contain “a lot of truth” as well as “so-called objective facts”.
The Duke of Sussex, 38, who now lives in California with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, discussed his memories in his book Spare, published in the UK yesterday.
At one point, while recalling a trip to the late Queen’s Scottish estate, Balmoral, in the summer of 1997, he explained how he had “crisp” recollection of “landscape, geography, architecture” but with “dates and dialogues’.
But then he added: “Whatever the reason, my memory is my memory, it does what it does, collects and curates as it sees fit, and there’s just as much truth in what I remember.” and as I recall, as therein -referred to as objective facts.’
The Duke of Sussex (pictured with Prince William and the late Princess Diana in 1995), 38, who now lives in California with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, discussed his memories during of his book, Spare, which was published in the UK yesterday
Elsewhere, the Duke later suggested his memory was “stained” after the death of his mother Princess Diana – but then went on to say he may “misremember my own struggles with memory from back then”.
He said: “Most likely my memory, as a defense mechanism, wasn’t recording things the way it used to be.”
However, the prince revealed how the months of therapy appeared to improve his ability to recall memories from the past, including moments with his late mother.
Harry’s comments come to his memory after new questions were raised about the accuracy of his memoir when his bold claims about royal lineage and the gift of an Xbox were debunked years before their official release.
At one point, while recalling a trip to the late Queen’s Scottish estate, Balmoral, in the summer of 1997, Harry (pictured Tuesday) explained how he remembered “landscape, geography, architecture” in “crisp detail.” can remember but struggles with ‘appointments and dialogue’
Harry’s comments come to his memory after new questions were raised about the accuracy of his memoir when his bold claims about royal lineage and the gift of an Xbox were debunked years before their official release. In Spare, the duke wrote enthusiastically about his “great-great-great-great-great-grandfather”, King Henry VI. (above), who founded Eton College and died in 1471
Harry’s connection to Henry VI was debunked by experts who took to social media (pictured)
In Spare, the Duke wrote enthusiastically about his “great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather”, King Henry VI, who founded Eton College and died in 1471 – despite the fact that the direct line of his supposed ancestor after his son Edward of Westminster died a childless teenager at the Battle of Tewkesbury.
The Duke also claimed that his aunt, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, gave him an Xbox for his 13th birthday in 1997 – but the best-selling device was first released in the United States four years later in 2001.
His connection to Henry VI and his Xbox gift were both dismissed by observant readers on social media, who criticized the inaccuracy and lack of fact-checking for a project reportedly costing £16million ($20million).
Reminiscing on his 13th birthday, Harry wrote that he excitedly opened his presents to reveal he had received the game console which he claims was bought for him by his mother shortly before her death.
Prince Harry’s new memoir Spare (pictured) went on sale in the UK yesterday
While eating cake and sorbet during the celebrations, the Duke said he had been asked to make a wish and was thinking of his late mother when his aunt emerged with a box in hand.
He said there was an Xbox inside, before admitting that the story “came up as gospel in a lot of accounts of my life and I have no idea if it’s true.”
The Xbox was Microsoft’s first foray into the world of console gaming, debuting with a global launch in 2001 that sparked fierce rivalry with Sony’s PlayStation 2 and Nintendo’s GameCube.
Meanwhile, historians were quick to take to social media to question the accuracy of Harry’s connection to the last of the Lancastrian dynasty.
The royal correspondent Patricia Treble pointed out the genealogical error in Spare and the fact that Henry VI. After the death of his son in 1471 he had no descendants.
Meanwhile, Harry (pictured on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday) sensationally accused the monarchy of trying to “undermine” his memoir because its controversial content “perhaps made her uncomfortable and frightened” when he launched another furious attack on the king in the latest in a series of television interviews to promote his book
Others blamed the memoir’s ghostwriter, award-winning American journalist and author JR Moehringer, for Henry VI’s error. Web has reached out to the book’s publisher, Penguin Random House, for comment.
The bloodline of Henry VI. continued through later generations when his half-brother’s son, Henry VII, reigned as King of England between 1485 and 1509.
Prince Harry’s actual great-great-great-great-great-grandfather was King George III, who reigned from 1760 to 1811, more than three centuries after the death of Henry VI.
Meanwhile, Harry sensationally accused the monarchy of trying to “undermine” his memoirs because their controversial content “perhaps made her feel uncomfortable and frightened” as he launched another angry attack on the royal family in a series of television interviews started to promote his book.
The 38-year-old held nothing back as he took aim at his family during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, where he staggered between hurling more barbs at his family and light-hearted jokes, including about his freezing -pinched genitals while drinking a glass of tequila.
Harry also took part in a skit with Tom Hanks and clinked glasses with Colbert as he praised America as “a great place to live” and how much he loves “beautiful California,” to cheers from the audience. He whipped the crowds up on several occasions, offering them all some tequila and talking about his Army career by asking, “Are there any veterans in the house?”
One of the more serious moments during the long sit saw Harry round up his relatives about the backlash to his memoir, with Colbert asking if he thinks the royals are in “an active campaign to undermine this book”.
“Of course,” replied the Duke, adding that “the British press” had also been involved in the “campaign”, with Colbert interjecting: “But supported and instigated by the Palace.”
“Of course again,” Harry confirmed. “But that’s the other side of the story, right? After 38 years, they have told their side of the story. That’s the other side of the story.’
The father-of-two then suggested that what he perceives as the royals’ “campaign” against his memoir was because they were “uncomfortable and scared” about its content.
“There’s a lot in there that might make people uncomfortable and scared,” he continued.
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