Prince Harry was exposed to adult temptations early in life, influenced by his older brother Prince William and his circle of friends from Eton, according to royal author Robert Lacey. In his book Battle of Brothers, Lacey explores how Harry’s involvement with William’s social circle led to him encountering temptations far beyond his years.
Lacey writes that during their time at Eton, Harry and William shared two of the most closely connected years of their lives. William had established a trusted group of friends, and Harry was welcomed into their fold. However, many of these friends were two years older than Harry, which meant the young prince was introduced to certain behaviors and temptations prematurely.
“Quite a few of his expanding social circle were a full two years older than him—making it likely that the 14-year-old would be introduced to temptations ahead of his years,” Lacey notes. He adds that while Harry appeared to be confident, his maturity did not match the image he projected.
Harry has since spoken openly about his experiences with substance use, admitting that his introduction to drugs occurred during his time at Eton. Reflecting on those years, he said, “I don’t remember how we got the stuff. One of my mates, I expect. Or maybe several.”
He detailed how he and his friends would use a small bathroom to smoke marijuana. “We’d commandeer a tiny upstairs bathroom, wherein we’d implement a surprisingly thoughtful, orderly assembly line,” Harry recalled. “Smoker straddled the loo beside the window, the second boy leaned against the basin, third and fourth boys sat in the empty bath, legs dangling over, waiting for their turns.”
Once finished, Harry said the group would retreat to a room and laugh together, often while watching episodes of Family Guy. “We’d giggle ourselves sick over an episode or two of a new show,” Harry recounted.
These early experiences, as detailed in Battle of Brothers, offer a glimpse into how Harry’s formative years were shaped by the influence of his older brother’s social circle and how he was introduced to behaviors far beyond his age at a young stage in life.