Prince Harry Says He Wasn't Allowed To Get Close To Royals As Distance Was Essential Amid Bitter Family Feud

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped away from the Royal Family four years ago.

Since then, they've shared insights into their lives behind the palace walls.

During this time, Harry has made some deeply emotional admissions.

The Duke of Sussex has openly discussed the necessity of "distance" within royal life, describing it as crucial during his time in the Royal Family.

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Since stepping back from his role as a senior working royal, Harry has revealed several startling details about his experiences.

He's participated in multiple interviews and authored a revealing memoir titled "Spare."

In his book, Harry expressed that he felt he could "never cross that chasm" to truly connect with his family.

He also disclosed that as a child, expressions of affection like hugs and kisses were often withheld.

Harry explained in his memoir: "As a Royal, you were always taught to maintain a buffer zone between you and the rest of Creation.

Even working a crowd, you always kept a discreet distance between Yourself and Them."

He elaborated that this distance was "an essential bit of being royal," which applied not just to the public but to personal relationships within the family as well.

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"No matter how much you might love someone, you could never cross that chasm between, say, monarch and child. Or Heir and Spare. Physically, but also emotionally," he wrote.

According to Harry, his brother Prince William would sometimes ask for space.

He also described the older generation of the Royal Family as having "a nearly zero-tolerance prohibition on all physical contact."

This meant no hugs, no kisses, and no pats, though Harry mentioned that on special occasions, there might be "a light touching of cheeks."

In "Spare," Harry also recounts his challenges growing up in the public eye, his experimentation with drugs as he got older, and a particularly intense argument with his brother William. 

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During this dispute, William allegedly insulted Meghan by calling her "difficult," "rude," and "abrasive."

Harry claims this confrontation escalated to the point where William "grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and knocked me to the floor."