The horse-loving ex-model, six years Harry’s senior, refuses to discuss whether she took his virginity

Amid Prince Harry’s personal revelations in his bombastic memoir, one particularly eyebrow-raising confession has sent the rumor mill into overdrive.

The Duke of Sussex has tongues wagging with his detailed account of losing his virginity in a field at the age of 17 to an elderly horse-loving woman.

In his book Spare, Harry reveals that he “mounted” his lover behind a busy pub – believed to be the Rattlebone Inn in Wiltshire – in what he describes as a “humiliating” encounter.

While delving into intimate details worthy of a passage from a Jilly Cooper novel, the prince described how his unnamed partner had treated him like a “cold stud” and “beat him up”.

Suzannah Harvey, pictured here with Prince Harry at the Beaufort Christmas Ball when he was 17, previously admitted to kissing the king

Mrs Harvey, pictured, is now CEO of Cotswold Airport. She declined to discuss Harry’s new memoir or the claims in the book when approached by the Mail

His surprising report has fueled feverish speculation as to who the mystery woman might be. After some rumors swirling, actress Liz Hurley ruled herself out before the book even hit Spanish bookstore shelves this week.

Harry’s fondness for older women is well known, as the young prince has previously been associated with a number of women several years his senior.

One woman he was associated with at the time was former model Suzannah Harvey, who was 23 and was described as an avid horse rider.

Harry is said to have met Miss Harvey, now Managing Director of Cotswold Airport, at the Beaufort Hunt Christmas Ball, which was held in a marquee in the grounds of Badminton House in Gloucestershire.

She told the Mail at the time that the then-teen, who was still a student at Eton, showered her with compliments before leading her outside and across a muddy field.

“I couldn’t believe it when he came straight at me,” she said at the time.

They enjoyed several intimate dances before sitting down to sip champagne when Harry suggested they “get some air”. She said he “treated her like a grown man.”

“It was very nice, but as we kissed I started to worry that his bodyguards would come looking for him. I didn’t mean to get him in trouble,’ said Miss Harvey.

“He’s a wild child and William couldn’t stop him. Outside, he treated me like a grown man.

“He grabbed my waist and pulled me towards him. It felt like his hands went around my waist.

Ms Harvey, pictured here in 2002, said in an interview earlier that year that Harry treated her “like a grown man” when he kissed her

Pictured here walking his dog in California earlier this week, Harry claims in his new book he lost his virginity to an elderly horse-loving woman in a field behind a pub

The incident referred to in Harry’s book may have taken place at the Rattlebone Inn near King Charles’ home in Highgrove

“The kissing was full of passion. My mouth was numb and couldn’t move,” she said in a 2002 interview.

She said the confident teen said he “loves her sexy body” and wrapped his arms around her to warm her up on the cold night.

“As he started to get more passionate, I started to worry. He felt my butt and my back was in the direction we came from so a guest could see us.

“I tried to keep my hands to myself, but I was tempted to let myself go,” she admitted.

“It was so hot that steam rose from us into the freezing air. He was definitely experienced with a woman.’

Miss Harvey said she told Harry she was six years older than him but that didn’t seem to bother him.

She added that he had tried to get her behind a minibus but she feared ruining her £1,500 ball gown.

When they returned to the marquee, their dress was muddy from walking in a field and they continued dancing before going their separate ways.

Miss Harvey, a 44-year-old successful businesswoman and mother of two who is engaged to be married, said last night Prince Harry’s memoir was not something she wanted to discuss.

She declined to speak to a reporter who called her home in the Cotswold yesterday, adding that she was away but her boyfriend, who she said was “with the SAS”, was there.

Moments later, a man walked up the driveway of the four-bedroom stone house and said, “Please leave now before I call the police.”

Prince Harry has been linked to other older women over the years, including the late Caroline Flack, who was six years his senior, and presenter Natalie Pinkham, who was seven years his senior.

He is also said to have pursued interior designer Catherine Ommanney, 13 years his senior, when he was 21 in 2006.

Like Miss Hurley, others may come out to distance themselves from the awkward encounter chronicled in Harry’s book.

The actress was quick to deny rumors in an interview with The Times, saying: “Not me. Not guilty. Not me. Absolutely not.’

In a translation from the Spanish edition of the book, Harry revealed how he lost his virginity while discussing how a royal aide paid him a visit to discuss a possible scandal.

He wrote: “I suspected he was referring to my recent loss of virginity, a humiliating episode involving an older woman who liked macho horses and treated me like a young stud.

“I quickly mounted her, then she spanked me and sent me away. One of my many mistakes was letting it happen in a field just behind a very busy pub. No doubt someone had seen us.”

However, the real reason the assistant sent Harry to examine him was that his father’s office had been informed that a newspaper had evidence he had been on drugs – which Harry called “lies”.