Prince Harry was inspired to join Instagram when he began dating Meghan Markle.
The son of Charles and Diana, 35, who married the former Suits actress, 38, in May 2018 at St George's Chapel in Windsor,started his own secret account on the social media app soon after he first met the American beauty, according to the book Finding Freedom.
The book claims that Meghan - who was an avid social media user before she married Harry and had her own lifestyle blog The Tig - started following an account by the name of @SpikeyMau5 – which is said to have belonged the Prince.
It is said that Harry came up with the handle due to his love of house music and that he incorporated Mau in reference to his favourite DJs – DeadMau5.
The account's profile picture was reportedly of a mouse-shaped helmet and it is believed that the 'spikey' moniker has been favoured by the Duke of Sussex for years and that he even used the term for himself on FaceBook.
'Spike' was a nickname sometimes used for Harry by his Scotland Yard protection offices.
Prior to axing his account, the profile picture on his alias page featured three men in panama hats, taken from the back in an MGM Grand Las Vegas hotel suite.
It further claimed that 'Spike Wells' is located in Maun in Botswana – which links in his love for Africa.
According to friends quoted in biography, Harry and Meghan were "immediately obsessed" with one another upon meeting.
The Duke of Sussex was left in a 'trance' following their first date at Dean Street Townhouse in Soho, where staff ensured their secrecy by whisking them through the back entrance.
The new book Finding Freedom has been written by authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand.
Extracts of Finding Freedom have been serialised by The Times and The Sunday Times.
The book also reveals that the couple got secretly engaged two months before they told the world.
The Duke of Sussex popped the question during their trip to Botswana in August 2017, it is claimed.
The couple previously said Harry proposed while trying to cook a chicken dinner in November 2017.
A spokesman for Harry and Meghan said the couple did not contribute to the book, but he did not deny the content of The Times's extracts.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033
