Prince Harry opens up about being ‘picked on’ and having his nose broken on the rugby pitch at Eton
‘I’ve been bullied quite a lot’: Prince Harry tells trauma expert Dr Gabor Maté in his interview that he broke his nose on the rugby pitch during his Eton school days
Prince Harry, during his interview with trauma expert Dr Gabor Maté, discussed how he was bullied while playing rugby when he was at Eton.
The Duke of Sussex, 38, answers questions from Dr Maté in what has been billed as an ‘intimate conversation’ about ‘living with loss and personal healing’, with the £17-a-head tickets including a copy of his memoir, Spare .
During the conversation, which began with the royal’s insistence that he does not see himself as a victim, Dr Maté described the prince as “dangerous” on the rugby pitch as he was “unafraid” of physical pain.
Harry replied: ‘I was a good candidate for the rugby team… I was bullied a lot, pushed against rugby posts and had my nose broken a few times.’
Although there was no mention of the King’s broken nose at the time, it was confirmed in 2010 that he suffered the injury at Eton when he was 16 years old.
Prince Harry has discussed how he was bullied playing rugby when he was at Eton during his interview with trauma expert Dr Gabor Maté – he said his nose was broken
Confirmation of the broken nose came when a portrait of Prince Harry, along with his old brother Prince William, was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery.
The painting, created by artist Nicky Philipps, marked the first oil portrait of the two royal brothers, then 25 and 27 years old.
Speaking of the part, Nicky said she was “extremely pleased” with Harry’s profile — including what she described as his broken nose.
“Prince Harry has a great profile,” she said.
“When he was a little boy he had a bit of a shovel nose, but apparently he broke it at school and it’s since straightened out.”
The brothers are shown in the painting in the formal dress uniform of the Household Cavalry Blues and Royals. Both were lieutenants in the regiment at the time.
William is depicted in his dress uniform with the blue sash and star of the Order of the Garter and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.
Harry also wears the Golden Jubilee Medal in addition to his award for service in Afghanistan.
Prince Harry (pictured during his school days at Eton) said he was shoved into rugby posts while playing the sport at school
The pair are depicted “in casual conversation” during an imaginary moment just before leaving the former residence of the late Queen Mother, Clarence House, to take part in 2008’s Trooping the Color.
In fact, the Princes had sat for the artist several times in her South Kensington studio, while she later visited Clarence House to fill in the background.
Today’s ‘intimate talk’ stems from the Sussex camp’s concerns over the recent revelation that they will be asked to move out of their Windsor home – which may be handed over to Prince Andrew.
News of Prince Harry’s broken nose was confirmed in 2010, several years after he suffered the injury while at school
The couple were reportedly given ‘weeks’ to pack up their UK home at Frogmore Cottage after Harry’s memoir Spare hit shelves in January.
Earlier this week, journalist Omid Scobie claimed some members of the royal family were “appalled” by the decision to evict Harry and Meghan, while the couple also reportedly felt “stupid”.
An insider is said to have told him: ‘It all feels very final and like a cruel punishment. It’s as if (the family) wants to remove them from the picture forever.’
But the pair are not as ‘baffled’ about the departure as previous reports have suggested, believing that ‘if we have to move, we will figure it out on our own,’ a source told The Times.
The revelation comes as preparations take place for King Charles’ coronation in May, amid speculation that Harry may not receive an invitation.