The ‘hardest royals ever’ from Anne to Andrew after Harry and William’s ‘fight’

2023-01-05

One of the most shocking details to have so far emerged from Prince Harry's upcoming memoir Spare is the claim that Prince William had started a fight with his younger brother over Meghan Markle.

“It all happened so fast,” Harry wrote. "…so very fast. He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dog’s bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out.”

The confrontation seems to have ended inconclusively, but with Harry having had rather more combat experience than his older brother, it seems likely that William would have come off second best in a longer tussle.

READ MORE: Experts predict who'd win fight between Harry and Wills – with one 'felled like an Ox'

But who is the hardest royal of all?

Historically, princes and kings would lead their people into battle. But nowadays a royal’s role involves a lot less punching and a lot more pageantry. Let’s count down the handiest scrappers in the royal family.

6. Prince Andrew

Like Wills and Harry, another combat veteran, standing a shade over six feet tall and with his weight officially listed at 13 stone the Duke of York might seem a promising prospect in the Octagon.

However, his inability to perspire might make him likely to overheat in a lengthy physical confrontation, as well as reducing his ability to slip out of a hold.

5. Prince William

Heartbroken Prince Harry talked with psychic to relay message from Princess Diana

Six feet three inches tall, weighing just over 14 stone and with an athletic build inherited from his mother’s side of his family, at 40 years old William could be said to be in the prime of life.

But a famously short temper would limit his ability to remain calm under pressure, and it’s a long time since William has had to fend for himself in a combat situation.

We think a certain softness may have crept in since his two years as a as a full-time pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

4. Mike Tindall

Furious Harry blasted William for not understanding why he 'wasn't content to be a spare'

While not a royal by blood, Tindall’s 75 international rugby caps for would undoubtedly see him chosen to represent The Firm in any physical set-to.

Standing 6’1” tall in his cotton socks, and weighing in at around 16 stone, the former Bath and Gloucester outside centre would make for an intimidating presence.

3. Princess Anne

Furious Harry blasted William for not understanding why he 'wasn't content to be a spare'

Even the most brutal punch-up involves more than merely physical prowess. Mental strength often can tip the balance in favour of a smaller fighter.

And Mike Tindall’s mother-in-law has mental strength in abundance. One example of the Princess Royal the Princess Royal’s unflappable nature comes from 1974, when she narrowly avoided being kidnapped in 1974 thanks to her calm and collected nature.

As she and her then husband Captain Mark Phillips made their way back to Buckingham Palace after a charity event, their car was blocked by one driven by gunman Ian Bell.

Bell, who was planning to ask for a £2 million ransom, then ordered Anne to get out of her car.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.

However, Anne was unperturbed – telling Bell that it was “not bloody likely” she would follow his orders.

Bell’s kidnap attempt was then brought to an ignominious end by former heavyweight boxer Ronnie Russell who punched him in the head.

But even without Ronnie’s intervention, we think Princess Anne would still give a pretty good account of herself if things got violent.

2. Prince Harry

King Charles' brutal joke to Princess Diana about newborn 'spare' son Harry

The Duke of Sussex, who saw combat in Afghanistan and claims to have killed at least 25 Taliban fighters, weighs in at a little over 11 stone and stands 6’2” tall.

His military training gives him a familiarity with modern small arms and his only disadvantage in a one-on-one confrontation would be his tendency to take things a little too personally.

If he could just keep a lid on his sensitive nature, Harry could lay a reasonable claim to be the tastiest royal of them all.

1. King Henry VIII

Prince Harry hints at missing King Charles' coronation in bombshell ITV interview

Allowing ourselves, for a moment, to delve into the history books we can’t rule out the monarch remembered as one of the handiest blokes of his generation.

As a younger man, Henry excelled at hunting and jousting, and it was only after a jousting accident in 1536 that he became the unhealthy, ill-tempered and frankly rather tubby king of the popular imagination.

By the time of his death Henry’s waist measurement was in excess of 54 inches (140 cm), and he suffered with painful, pus-filled boils and quite possibly gout as well.

But if we can pluck the last Tudor king from the perfect moment in his eventful life, his skill with sword, lance and mace almost certainly enable him to give a good account of himself in a ruck.

He’d wipe the floor with all the others, and settle down to a delicious chicken-leg feast afterwards.

READ NEXT:

Harry and Meghan's new Netflix show branded 'upsetting' by Nelson Mandela's grandchild
Nazi treasure map could reveal huge WW2 jewel loot hidden by Hitler's soldiers
Sickest Brits locked up in 2022 from demon hypnotist to killer with 'broken penis'
Meghan Markle and Princess Eugenie 'have an unbreakable bond' and 'regularly FaceTime'
Charles and William 'could open Pandora's Box by exposing Prince Harry' warns expert

Source: Read Full Article