Prince Harry has openly acknowledged having a long list of regrets, particularly regarding his strained relationship with the British royal family. However, years before his current reconciliation efforts, he was saved from making a permanent decision during one of his most infamous nights out.
The Duke of Sussex—now living in Montecito, California, with wife Meghan Markle and their two children—was known for his fun-loving and rebellious streak in his younger days. One of his most talked-about moments came during a 2012 Las Vegas trip, which made global headlines.
In his memoir Spare, Harry revealed that during that wild night, he felt the urge to get a tattoo to commemorate the trip.
“Something to symbolise my sense of freedom, my sense of carpe diem,” he wrote, explaining how he considered several spots on his body before deciding on the sole of his foot, inspired by Botswana—a place deeply meaningful to him.
However, his bodyguard, nicknamed Billy the Rock, firmly opposed the idea, with Harry’s friends backing him up.
“Absolutely not,” they told him, even promising to “physically stop” him from going through with it. Harry eventually gave in, deciding the tattoo could wait until the next day—a day that never came.
While tattoos aren’t officially banned in royal tradition, they are generally frowned upon, and no senior royal has ever been seen with one. If Harry had returned to the UK sporting a foot tattoo, it could have sparked controversy within the palace.
Now, years later, Harry is focused on repairing his relationship with his cancer-stricken father, King Charles III. Peace talks between Montecito and Buckingham Palace have raised hopes for a royal reconciliation.
The Duke is expected to return to the UK next month for the WellChild Awards, with speculation that a private meeting with the King could be arranged during his visit.
