The Duke of Sussex has explained his decision to publish details of his relationships with family members in his forthcoming memoir, telling an interviewer: “I don’t know how staying silent is ever going to make things better.”
In a trailer for an interview with ITV’s Tom Bradby, to be broadcast on Sunday, Prince Harry also does not confirm if he will attend his father’s coronation, saying: “There’s a lot that can happen between now and then.”
And, in response to any suggestion he has invaded his family’s privacy in his tell-all book, he claims those who criticise him “don’t understand or want to believe” that the press were being briefed by his family.
The interview is one of two Harry has recorded before the publication of his memoir, Spare, on 10 January. An interview with Anderson Cooper will also air on Sunday on the US channel CBS.
Clips from another TV interview appear to show Harry referring to William in the book as his “arch-nemesis”.
In a trailer for a Good Morning America interview due to air on Monday, the anchor Michael Strahan is heard saying: “There’s a quote in your book where you refer to your brother as your ‘beloved brother and arch-nemesis’. Strong words. What did you mean by that?”
Harry responds: “There has always been this competition between us, weirdly. I think it really plays into or always played into the ‘heir/spare’.”
In exclusive extracts from Spare published by the Guardian, Harry alleges that he was physically attacked by his brother, the now Prince of Wales, in a row over Harry’s wife, Meghan, with the altercation leaving him with a visible injury to his back.
There was no comment from Kensington Palace or Buckingham Palace.
In the ITV trailer, Bradby questions Harry about his decision to discuss his family relationships and Harry replies: “I don’t know how staying silent is ever going to make things better.”
Bradby asks him: “Wouldn’t your brother say to you, ‘Harry, how could you do this to me after everything? After everything we went through?’ Wouldn’t that be what he would say?”
Harry replies: “He would probably say all sorts of different things.”
Bradby then says: “Some people will say you’ve railed against invasions of your privacy all your life and the accusation will be here, are you invading the privacy of your nearest and dearest without permission, now that will be the accusation.”
Harry responds: “That would be the accusation from people that don’t understand or don’t want to believe that my family have been briefing the press.”
In the clip, the duke is asked about plans for the coronation of his father, King Charles III, due to take place on 6 May, as well as about his view of the monarchy and his role in it.
“If you are invited to the coronation will you come?” asks Bradby.
Harry replies: “There’s a lot that can happen between now and then. But the door is always open. The ball is in their court. There’s a lot to be discussed and I really hope that they are willing to sit down and talk about it.”
Bradby asks: “Do you still believe in the monarchy?”
“Yes,” replies Harry.
“Do you believe you will play a part in its future?” Bradby continues.
“I don’t know,” Harry replies.
• Harry: The Interview is on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on 8 January
