Prince Harry and Prince William Once Turned a Bomb Shelter into a Secret Club
"Club H turned Highgrove into quite the hot spot when Dad happened to be away."
Prince Harry and Prince William may not be on the best of terms now, but when they were younger, the royal brothers got up to plenty of mischief together.
In his book Battle of Brothers, royal expert Robert Lacey gave some insight into funny moments from William and Harry's youth. The brothers spent a lot of time at Highgrove House, their father King Charles' country residence. According to Lacey, William and Harry found an unusual way to make their dad's house more fun.
The royals apparently turned "a bomb-proof shelter in the house's cellar into 'Club H,' with a private disco and even a drinks trolley," the Express reported. According to the publication, Lacey wrote of William and Harry's unexpected endeavor, "Club H turned Highgrove into quite the hot spot when Dad happened to be away. In his absence, 16-year-old William—already a steady drinker—and his younger brother 'relaxed' intensively."
Prince William was allegedly responsible for creating the bomb shelter disco. "Club H had been very much William's inspiration, with his older friends largely setting the social pace for Harry," Lacey wrote.
Of course, if their father was at home, William and Harry would likely vacate their homemade disco, according to Lacey. "[T]he two brothers and their friends could all pile out together to The Rattlebone Inn in the village of Sherston five miles away," he wrote.
Prince Harry himself has discussed the special club he once created with his brother. In his memoir Spare, Harry wrote (via the Express), "I hid in the basement beneath Highgrove, usually with Willy. We called it Club H. Many assumed the H stood for Harry, but in fact it stood for Highgrove."
While Harry and William allegedly aren't close right now, it's clear that they have a wonderful shared history of stories between them. Hopefully, Princess Diana's son will one day be able to reconcile.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Amy Mackelden is a contributing editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.
-
Wait, Did Kaia Gerber Skip the 2024 Emmys Red Carpet?
The model was nowhere to be seen on the red carpet.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
Elizabeth Debicki Knows You'll Compare Her Dior Emmys Dress to Princess Diana
Here, she exclusively takes 'Marie Claire' inside the styling of her "regal" gown.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
72 New Arrivals We're Obsessing Over Right Now
Sponsor Content Created With Walmart
By Anneliese Henderson Published
-
Kate Middleton and Prince William Secretly Helped a London Food Bank Get Back on Its Feet
The food pantry was robbed on Sept. 8.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Secretly Visited a New Helicopter Base After Hinting He Wants to Fly Again
The Prince of Wales reportedly "surprised people at the event."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince Harry Spent His 40th Birthday Supporting Children in Foster Care With Meghan Markle
The couple made a stylish appearance at a charity tennis tournament.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Hates Playing Card Games With the "Fiercely Competitive" Middleton Family
"William would flinch at our ruthless determination to win at all costs."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Princess Kate Was "Influential" in "Softening" Prince William's Approach to Old "Grudges"
"Perhaps she has persuaded William that life is too short."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
James Middleton Shares the Low-Key Way He Found Out Sister Kate Was Engaged to Prince William
"Did he deserve my sister? He had to earn my trust."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Three Royal Rulebreakers Who Share the Same September Birthday
Two princes and a glamorous European queen are celebrating in Virgo style.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince Harry Has a “Fresh Perspective” on His Life as He Turns 40 This Weekend
The Duke of Sussex is looking forward to the future.
By Kristin Contino Published