It was, he admits, one of the “biggest mistakes” of his life.
Now Netflix has gleefully recreated Harry's embarrassment at wearing a Nazi uniform to a party in the very final episode of The Crown.
But in this case, the prince's proximity to the streaming service seems to have paid off. Harry, who reportedly has an £80 million production deal with Netflix, has notably shied away from criticizing the show's increasingly cartoonish storylines.
The on-screen depiction of his Nazi debacle appears to remain close to his own recollection of the incident in his memoir Spare.
In the book, Harry takes little responsibility for his actions and blames Prince William and his then-girlfriend Kate for egging him on.
The Crown sends the trio – played by Ed McVey, Luther Ford and Meg Bellamy – to a costume shop in the Cotswolds, where they plan a “Natives and Colonials” themed party.
Harry's embarrassment at wearing a Nazi uniform to a party was cheerfully recreated by Netflix in the very last episode of The Crown
The Crown sends the trio – played by Ed McVey, Luther Ford and Meg Bellamy – to a costume shop in the Cotswolds, where they plan a “Natives and Colonials” themed party
While William is traveling as a lion, his younger brother doesn't know what to do until he comes across a uniform of the Afrika Korps – Rommel's troops in North Africa – with a swastika band
While William is traveling as a lion, his younger brother doesn't know what to do until he comes across a uniform of the Afrika Korps – Rommel's troops in North Africa – with a swastika band.
“Germany had an empire, didn’t it?” he asks in the scene. “What about it?” “I don’t know,” Kate replies. “Maybe cover up the swastika?” But William comes to his brother’s aid.
'Oh come on. Wearing the outfit doesn't make him a Nazi. Isn't that the joke?' he adds. In the mirror, the then 20-year-old Harry joyfully greets “Heil Hitler” as he makes his choice.
At the party, hosted by Olympic show jumper Richard Meade, Harry is photographed by two shocked guests who sell the pictures to The Sun.
The royal family are then shown examining the front pages in horror as the young prince screams obscenities as he realizes his mistake.
In a later scene, the two brothers argue about the scandal over dinner with their father.
“You were all for the uniform and encouraging me,” Harry shouted. “Suddenly you're Mr. Moral.” He stabs me in the back… how many faces does this man have?'
In a later scene, the two brothers argue about the scandal over dinner with their father
At the party, hosted by Olympic show jumper Richard Meade, Harry is photographed by two shocked guests who sell the pictures to The Sun
The royal family are then shown examining the front pages in horror as the young prince screams obscenities as he realizes his mistake
William then says, “I'm not sure I like who you're turning into.”
“I'm not sure I like who you were,” Harry replies angrily.
FOR MORE ABOUT THE CROWN
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Find out in the new episode of our essential podcast, The Crown: Fact of Fiction
And listen on to find out the truth about Harry's Nazi costume
In Spare there is no indication that William and Kate were ever in the costume shop at the same time. But Harry portrays himself as a victim and claims the couple promised to help him find a suitable outfit.
The prince says he called her to discuss his options, explaining it was a dispute between an RAF pilot's uniform and a Nazi's.
He wrote: “I called Willy and Kate and asked what they thought. 'Nazi uniform, they said.'
He describes how he took it home and tried it on for her – with a “real Hitler” mustache – and “they both cried”.
He said William was “sympathetic” about the resulting furore but “there wasn't much to say”. His father was surprisingly understanding, but a public apology was deemed necessary.
Award-winning The Crown author Peter Morgan insists he hasn't read “a word” of Spare, adding: “I didn't want his voice to influence my thinking too much.” I have great sympathy for him, but I didn't want to read his book.'