Prince Harry Denies ‘Physical Fight’ with Prince Andrew and Comments About Meghan Markle in Explosive New Book

Prince Harry is pushing back against explosive allegations made in a new book claiming he was once involved in a physical altercation with Prince Andrew and that Meghan Markle was the target of private insults.

A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex told PEOPLE, “I can confirm neither of those things are true. Prince Harry and Prince Andrew have never had a physical fight, nor did Prince Andrew ever make those comments about the Duchess of Sussex to Prince Harry.”

The denial comes in response to Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, a new book by author Andrew Lownie. In an excerpt published in the Daily Mail, the book alleges a “heated argument” took place between Harry and Andrew during a 2013 family gathering. The account claims the dispute, sparked by something Andrew reportedly said behind Harry’s back, escalated to the point that “punches were thrown,” allegedly leaving Andrew with a bloody nose. The book also claims Andrew referred to Meghan as an “opportunist” and questioned whether the marriage would last.

The book further asserts that tensions between Andrew and his nephews, Prince Harry and Prince William, have persisted for years. It claims Prince William has quietly advocated for Andrew’s removal from Royal Lodge, the Windsor estate Andrew still occupies, and that William has expressed disdain for Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

Kensington Palace declined to comment when contacted by PEOPLE, and Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The book also revisits Prince Andrew’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender at the center of a scandal that led to Andrew stepping down from royal duties and retreating from public life.

This latest publication adds to a growing list of books detailing the internal tensions within the royal family, many of which have intensified since Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California.

Now living in Montecito, Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, are raising their two children—Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4—while pursuing a mix of philanthropic and entrepreneurial ventures.

Despite ongoing strain with the royal family, Harry has publicly voiced his desire to repair those relationships. “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore,” he said in a May interview with the BBC.