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According to Prince Harry’s version of events, his brother William was jealous he was allowed to break a certain rule that he was forbidden from and the siblings rowed for over a week about it
Prince William ordered his younger brother Harry to conform to strict protocol before his wedding and was ‘livid’ when he refused because he’d already spoken to the late Queen about the issue.
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The feud between Princes Harry and William began many years ago and is now so serious it is believed the brothers no longer speak at all. Before relations became so frosty and the siblings were still talking, tensions were reportedly building behind the scenes. In the run up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018 there were numerous issues, as is often the case with nuptials. It’s not uncommon for families to have disagreements about arrangements for the big day and the royals, it seems were no different.
In his memoir Spare, Harry details one particular row that he claims erupted over a strict protocol. William, he says, believed his younger brother should adhere to tradition and was "livid" when he refused to. The disagreement was over whether Harry should sport a beard on his wedding day. It was generally thought that royals should be clean shaven when they tie the knot, particularly if they are wearing an army uniform.
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Harry explained in his book: "A beard was thought by some to be a clear violation of protocol and long-standing norms, especially since I was getting married in my Army uniform. Beards were forbidden in the British Army." The British Army prohibits all beards, except in a few rare circumstances, such as when a soldier is suffering from a skin complaint, or has strong religious reasons for retaining facial hair. Sikhs are not allowed to cut their own hair so they can sport beards while in uniform, for example.
Special Forces or others on covert operations are also permitted to grow beards when behind enemy lines, but they would not wear them on parade. There is also a tradition that allows a very small number of Pioneer Sergeants to wear a beard when on official duty, but members of the Queen’s personal guard have never been allowed to do so.
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In the memoir, ghost-written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author JR Moehringer, Harry says he was driven to ask his grandmother, the late Queen, for permission in person to keep his fuzz, explaining that the beard made him feel calmer. Harry said in his book that when he spoke to the Queen she consented to him keeping his beard. He wrote: "Yes, she said, you may keep your beard," writes Harry. "But then I explained it to my brother and he... bristled? Not the done thing, he said. Military rules, and so forth."
Attempting to convince his older brother, Harry says he gave him a "quick history lesson" on Google and showed him images of their ancestors who were bearded and uniformed, such as Edward VII and George V. When he told William the Queen had already granted him permission anyway, he says he "became livid." Harry reports his brother saying: "You put her in an uncomfortable position, Harold! She had no choice but to say yes."
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The row went on for over a week, Harry claims in his book, with William 'ordering' him to shave. When he asked why it mattered so much, William, who has never commented on the claims or given his side of the story, allegedly said: "Because I wasn't allowed to keep my beard." Harry writes: "Ah, there it was. After he'd come back from an assignment with Special Forces, Willy was sporting a full beard, and someone told him to be a good boy, run along and shave it. He hated the idea of me enjoying a perk he'd been denied."
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