Author Claims Prince William Wants to Protect His Kids From a 'Cruel' Royal System
‘Heir and the Spare’ is a phrase that reflects royal siblings’ positions in the line of succession.
For many years, the royal brothers, Prince William and Prince Harry, have been labeled as the ‘heir and the spare’ by various experts and media outlets. It is allegedly a traditional phrase that reflects their positions in the line of succession, with the younger sibling often seen as a backup in case anything happens to the heir. While this is a commonly used term, it is now being reported that William has vowed to protect his children from what he sees as the ‘built-in cruelty’ of the long-standing heir and spare system.
William is making sure that his younger children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, are equipped with everything they need to build their own lives, rather than being bound by royal hierarchy. This preparation comes as Prince George is expected to one day ascend the throne, as reported by HELLO Magazine. Princess Diana's biographer, Tina Brown, spoke of this and said, "I am told that the heir to the throne, Prince William, is preoccupied with the built-in risk of primogeniture’s cruelty," before adding, "He is determined that his second- and third-born children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, are well-prepared and well-financed for independent lives and will not fall into the same cycle of thwarted freedom."
Meanwhile, William is believed to have no connection with his younger brother currently, who even mentioned his ‘spare’ nickname in his 2023 memoir, Spare. Harry alleged that the labels were not just used by the media outlets, but family members as well, claiming that both King Charles and Princess Diana, along with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, used the terms when referring to the brothers.
The younger prince even revealed his dad’s alleged remark to Diana on the day he was born, claiming the King had said, "Wonderful! Now you've given me an heir and a spare – my work is done." He then went on to talk about how his family would use the terms, stating, "They would say it without a spirit of judgement, but straight out. I was the shadow, the supporting actor, the plan B. I was brought into this world in case something happened to Willy." Furthermore, in a separate interview, he added that he fears one of William’s children may grow up feeling the same way, which he finds painful and worrying.
Meanwhile, it’s important to note that the long-standing system of male primogeniture was abolished in 2013. This was a historic decision as it ended the tradition that gave preference to sons over daughters in the royal line of succession. Considering this, Charlotte now holds her place ahead of Louis, reflecting a more modern approach. Author Tom Quinn revealed how this rule change will affect the three Wales siblings, stating, "It will make things a lot easier because there won't be two males like two deer clashing antlers anymore.”
