William and Harry

"This is really the predecessor to my book. Ingrid talks about their early lives and in my book I talk about the later years when I spent time with them and partied with them and witnessed their coming of age. But I did need to understand their early childhood and I do think that Ingrid Seward probably has the best detail on that. She had some lovely stories from Ludgrove. She recounted the time that William was accidentally struck with a golf club and the dramatic trip to the hospital in Reading and then down to London. She also talks about how the split took its toll on William particularly, and that was interesting. The boys’ early childhood has, of course, impacted on their adult lives, so learning about their schooldays was very important. The inner sanctum will never speak – Thomas van Straubenzee, Guy Pelly, Tom Inskip, James Meade and the Van Cutsems. These are the friends that William and Harry have had for life and they are notoriously discreet but there is an extended circle and they can be more inclined to talk. I know William was worried when he heard that my book was coming out because there was information he didn’t want to come out. There were stories that I managed to uncover. For example, his first girlfriend was Rose Farquhar, a summer fling that they had managed to keep secret for 15 years. I think they were quite surprised when I lifted the lid on this. But I think it is all in how you tell a story. My book is actually very warm towards both of the boys and towards Kate. It is not a muckraking exposé. It is really just a portrait of their lives and I don’t think that anyone has been too upset. I have been told that no one is displeased with it! No, thank goodness! Sometimes Harry has a cheeky comment to make on something he’s read in the column but they have never been unkind to me."