Prince Harry described Kate Middleton in 3 words when they first met — and revealed her ‘heavily disguised’ secret side

Prince Harry recounted one of his first encounters with sister-in-law Kate Middleton in his memoir, revealing the three words he used to describe her.

Some time in the early 2000s, Prince William had told his brother to go a party with what Harry described as a rather “cringy” theme of “Natives and colonials,” Harry, 40, wrote in “Spare,” the book that rocked the royal family when it came out in 2023.

Kate, at the time William’s new beau, helped Harry find a fitting outfit.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry speak as they host a tea party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace to honour the children of those who have died serving in the armed forces on May 13, 2017 in London, England. Prince Harry is recounting one of the first encounters with sister-in-law Kate in his memoir, Spare.Getty Images
“She was carefree, sweet, kind,” Harry said.

In a Newsweek feature on the aftermath of his mother’s death, it was noted that “Harry seemed to be growing up without someone emotionally available he could lean on,” as he was 12 years old at the time of the accident.

“Kate has helped fill some of that gap.”

Harry also waxed nostalgic in his autobiography about enjoying making Kate laugh and the connection he felt with her “heavily disguised silly side.”
Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge laugh as they host a tea party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace to honour the children of those who have died serving in the armed forces on May 13, 2017 in London, England.A Newsweek feature on Harry revealed that “Kate has helped fill some of that gap” following Princess Diana’s death.Getty Images
However, the royals in-laws’ once-tight bond has been facing various tensions, including a heated conversation between Kate and Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, that took place leading up to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s May 2018 nuptials.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch a flypast to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018 in London, England. The royals’ bond has been facing various tensions, including a heated conversation between Kate and Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle.Getty Images
Since leaving his royal obligations, Harry has talked about his hopes for a reconciliation.

“There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family,” Harry told the BBC in a recent interview.

“I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point continuing to fight anymore, life is precious.”

However, a royal insider says William is not interested. “When he becomes king, everybody thinks the divide will become even wider,” the source said of the Prince of Wales.