Prince Harry issues legal response over biography claims of physical altercation with Prince Andrew and alleged comments about Meghan Markle
Prince Harry has firmly denied claims that he physically assaulted Prince Andrew during a heated altercation at a 2013 royal gathering, following the publication of explosive allegations in a new biography. The Daily Mail published excerpts from Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, by royal biographer Andrew Lownie, which alleges that Harry left his uncle with a bloody nose after a verbal argument escalated into violence.
According to the book, the alleged fight began when Harry accused Andrew of speaking behind his back. The biography also claims that Andrew insulted Meghan Markle, calling her an “opportunist” and predicting the marriage “wouldn’t last more than a month.” He reportedly told Harry he had gone “bonkers” and failed to look into Meghan’s background before their engagement in 2017.
Harry and Meghan Push Back with Legal Action
A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle responded late Saturday, denying the claims in full. “I can confirm Prince Harry and Prince Andrew have never had a physical fight, nor did Prince Andrew ever make the comments he is alleged to have made about the Duchess of Sussex,” the spokesperson stated. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also sent a legal letter to the Daily Mail, describing the publication’s content as “gross inaccuracies, damaging and defamatory.”
Ongoing Royal Tensions and Fallout
The biography paints a picture of long-standing tension between Prince Andrew and both Prince Harry and Prince William, claiming Andrew also made disparaging remarks about Catherine, Princess of Wales. The book adds that Prince William is “keen to evict” Andrew and Sarah Ferguson from Royal Lodge, the 30-room Windsor residence owned by the Crown Estate, after King Charles ended Andrew’s £1 million yearly allowance.
Prince Andrew has remained largely out of public life since his 2019 Newsnight interview about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which led to the loss of his royal and military titles in 2021.
Harry’s Break from the Royal Family
Prince Harry stepped back from royal duties in 2020, citing the “toxicity” of royal life and racist treatment of his wife Meghan. The couple relocated to North America and have since aired grievances through interviews and Harry’s bestselling memoir, Spare. Despite their estrangement, Harry told the BBC earlier this year that he had forgiven his family and would welcome reconciliation.
