Prince Harry details physical assault by brother William in new book

In his long-awaited autobiography, Spare, Prince Harry tells of what he says was physical abuse from his brother William, now the Prince of Wales, after their relationship broke down over Harry's marriage with actress Meghan Markle.

Describing the confrontation at his London home in 2019, Harry says William called Meghan "difficult", "rude" and "indifferent".

The confrontation escalated, Harry writes, until William "grabbed me by the collar, ripping off my pendant and ... knocked me to the floor."

The conflict, which Harry says resulted in visible back damage, is one of many in "Spare", the book which will be published worldwide next week and is likely to spark serious anger for the family British royalty.

The title of the book comes from an old saying in royal circles: that the first son is the heir to titles, power and wealth, and the second, therefore, is a spare (spare), if something happens to the first.

William left, Harry says, then came back "remorseful and apologetic".

Harry's resentment at always coming second is the book's unifying theme, through chapters on his childhood, schooling, career as a royal and in the British military, his relationships with his parents and brother, and his life with Meghan.