5 Things Prince William Got Away With as Heir That Harry Never Did

Prince William and Prince Harry grew up in the same household, but being the heir and the spare meant their experiences were not always the same. From the way their mistakes were covered by the media to the small privileges they enjoyed inside the royal household, William often had an advantage simply because he was the heir to the throne. Harry has spoken openly about the differences he had to face, revealing how the brothers were treated differently under the same roof.

Early on, William and Harry were treated differently not only in their family but also by the media. While William and Harry had wild phases, the former’s partying was often presented as a normal part of growing up. The palace media's narrative was also better placed to protect the future king’s image. Harry, meanwhile, saw his own mistakes become international headlines, from his Las Vegas trip to controversial costume choices. These incidents helped create his image as the “rebellious royal”, while William was more often portrayed as the responsible future king.

Harry previously revealed a surprising example of how he was treated differently in his own house, Balmoral. The brothers shared a partitioned nursery, but William had the larger and more luxurious side as the heir. In Spare, Harry shared, “Willy had the larger half, with a double bed, a good-sized basin, a cupboard with mirrored doors, a beautiful window looking down on the courtyard, the fountain, the bronze statue of a roe deer buck.” He continued, “My half of the room was far smaller, less luxurious. I never asked why. I didn’t care. But I also didn’t need to ask. Two years older than me, Willy was the Heir, whereas I was the Spare.”

Among other perks, William’s position as heir also affected the way he approached military service. Harry served in Afghanistan and has spoken openly about the risks he faced there, while William’s role as the future king meant his deployments were treated differently. The palace and military had to consider the danger of losing the direct heir, negating any dangerous frontline service. Harry, meanwhile, was allowed to serve in active combat zones.

The differences don't end there; reportedly, the royal brothers also clashed over their wedding plans. Harry and Markle wanted a grand royal wedding, but William warned his brother against choosing Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral. As per him, these venues were already associated with major royal weddings, like his and his father, King Charles's, so he wanted Harry to go for a smaller venue. Harry later described William’s concerns about their choices in Spare. The incident showed how William allegedly could exercise influence as the future king. While Harry ultimately married Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, the tension around the venue became part of the wider story.

Last but not least, Harry accused the Palace of always trying to protect William's image. He cited an incident from 2020, when a statement was issued denying reports that William had bullied Markle. The statement appeared to come from both brothers, but Harry later said he had not been consulted before his name was included. In Spare, he recalled being angry that the palace had effectively spoken for him.