Prince William's influence led Harry into risky behaviour, his memoir Spare reveals

Prince Harry’s account of drug use highlights the pressures he faced growing up.

The complex dynamics between Prince William and Prince Harry during their teenage years are laid bare in a recent memoir. Prince Harry's new revelations about his time at Eton College, as detailed in his book Spare, suggest that his older brother's well-intentioned guidance inadvertently exposed him to risky behaviour.

According to Robert Lacey's 2020 book, Battle of Brothers, Prince William took a protective role when Harry joined him at Eton in 1998, just a year after their mother, Princess Diana, passed away. Lacey notes that while the brothers developed a close bond, the social environment at Eton, combined with Harry’s younger age, led him into temptations he was ill-prepared to handle.

Harry’s memoir, Spare, provides a candid account of his experiences, including his experimentation with marijuana and later, cocaine. “I don’t remember how we got the stuff. One of my mates, I expect,” Harry writes. He describes how he and his friends used a bathroom at Eton to smoke marijuana, followed by sessions of watching Family Guy. He also recounts his use of cocaine during a shooting weekend, revealing it was part of a deeper struggle with emotional distress stemming from his mother’s death.

The memoir illustrates how William’s efforts to shield Harry from harm ultimately brought him into contact with a more problematic peer group. Lacey’s observations underscore the impact of Diana’s death on the brothers’ lives, shaping their teenage years in ways that would have long-lasting effects.

For further insights, Harry’s memoir Spare offers an unfiltered look at his personal challenges and the influence of his brother during those formative years.