Prince Harry denies he “bragged” about killing 25 Taliban militants in explosive memoir Spare

Prince Harry has furiously quashed allegations that he “bragged” about killing 25 Taliban militants in his explosive memoir Spare – while accusing his critics of “twisting” his words and spreading “lies” about the revelation from which he says she misled his family. in danger’.

The 38-year-old vehemently defended his decision to share the information as he sat down for an interview with Late Show host Stephen Colbert – a pre-taped conversation that was taped Monday night and is set to air in full tonight.

In a teaser clip for what will no doubt be another bombshell TV tell-all, Harry hit back at accusations that he had “undermined his own security” by writing about his Taliban kills while he was doing his Critics accused of spreading ‘dangerous lies’ and ‘spiders’ of his words’.

“I think one of the… most dangerous lies they’ve told is that I kind of bragged about the number of people I killed in Afghanistan,” he told Colbert.

“I would say if I heard someone brag about something like that, I would be furious. But it’s a lie.

He added: “My words are not dangerous, but the twist in my words is very dangerous for my family.”

Prince Harry has furiously quashed allegations that he “bragged” about killing 25 Taliban militants during an interview with Stephen Colbert in his explosive memoir Spare

Harry, 38, has faced serious criticism from politicians and ex-military personnel after leaked excerpts from his book revealed his memories of killing Taliban members while serving as an Apache helicopter pilot

The Duke of Sussex has faced serious criticism from politicians and senior ex-military members alike after leaked excerpts from his book – released after the book was inadvertently published early in Spain – revealed his memories of killing Taliban members while he was pilot served as an Apache helicopter.

After the excerpts were released last week, former British Army commander Colonel Richard Kemp described Harry’s comments as “ill-considered”. to attempt an attack on British soldiers anywhere in the world”.

Meanwhile, former Royal Marine commando Ben McBean suggested the Duke broke an “unwritten rule” with his revelation.

However, Harry insisted to Colbert that it wasn’t his words that were in any way dangerous – but rather the “spin” his critics put on them, with the Duke saying it was “a choice they made.” “, which has taken his family at risk.

He went on to insist that the “reason” he chose to write about his kill numbers was to “reduce the number of suicides” among military veterans.

“I chose to share it because after nearly two decades of working with veterans around the world, I feel the most important thing is to be honest and give others space to share their experiences without shame,” he said he – to applause from the audience, which included several veterans.

“And my whole goal, my attempt to share that detail, is to reduce the number of suicides.”

Harry, who was known in the military as “Captain Wales”, wrote in Spare that he did not see those killed as people, but as “chess pieces” he had taken off the board.

The father-of-two, who flew an Apache attack helicopter on his second tour, said it was “not a fact that fills me with satisfaction, but I wasn’t ashamed either.”

Harry took part in two tours in Afghanistan, the first in 2007-2008 and the second in 2012-2012.

In Spare, the prince said he had flown on six missions that resulted in “lives being taken”.

While many soldiers are unaware of how many enemies they killed in combat, the Duke wrote that “in the era of Apaches and laptops” he was able to say “exactly” the number of insurgents he killed.

The Duke has continued to talk about his time in the military – and his decision to write so publicly about his experiences – in a series of interviews, which he has included in his memoir, which is officially released today.

This morning, just over 12 hours before his meeting with Colbert airs, People magazine ran an interview with Harry in which he justified his decision to share his kill count by saying it was part of his personal “healing.” “.