05 January 2023 , 18:08
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Prince Harry received a birthday gift from his late mother Princess Diana weeks after her tragic death.
Just two weeks after Diana died following a car crash in Paris, Harry turned 13 and had returned to his boarding school Ludgrove.
In his new memoir Spare, he reveals how he enjoyed a birthday cake and sorbet at the school before being presented with a gift by his aunt, Diana's sister Sarah McCorquodale.
And he says that the gift was an X-box games console that Diana had bought for him before she had died and had been planning to give him on his special day.
Princess Diana with Prince Harry and Prince William (WireImage)
Harry turned 13 just two weeks after Diana's death (UK Press via Getty Images)He details how he tore off the wrapping paper to reveal the games console and was told how his mum bought it for him.
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Harry writes: "It was an Xbox. I was happy; I loved video games."
But he adds that he has no idea if this is true as he was unable to recall certain memories.
He adds: "That's the story, at least. It has appeared in many chronicles of my life, as if it were gospel, but I have no idea if it's true. My father had told me that my mother had hurt her head, but maybe I was the one with a brain injury. As a defence mechanism, I'm sure, my memory no longer stored the experiences as it used to."
Harry with his dad and brother following his mother's death in 1997 (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)It was previously reported that Diana used to spend hours trying to find the perfect presents for her sons for special occasions such as birthdays.
According to her former butler Paul Burrell, one year at Christmas she bought Harry a very naughty stocking filler - and he absolutely loved it.
Speaking to the Mirror, he said: "She'd spend hours looking for jokey things for their stockings. One year, Harry got fake dog poo."
And not only did Harry love the gift, but he also had a very cheeky plan on how he was going to use it - he wanted to trick his grandmother the Queen with it.
Details from Harry's book emerged after a bookstore in Spain started selling the memoir five days early.
It is not due to be released until Tuesday (January 10) with Harry having several TV interviews lined up to promote it over the weekend.
This story is based off a translated version of Prince Harry ’s memoir Spare. Spare published by Penguin Random House will be available to buy in the UK on January 10.
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