A woman who claims she was the person Prince Harry lost his virginity to has said she was "surprised" that the detail was included in his memoir Spare.

In the controversial book, Harry mentioned how he first had sex in a field behind a busy pub with an older woman.

The Duke of Sussex described the moment as a “humiliating episode”.

He continued: “Among the many things about it that were wrong: It happened in a grassy field behind a busy pub. Obviously, someone had seen us.”

Sasha Walpole, who has been interviewed by the Mail on Sunday, said she is that woman and is now telling the story in her own words.

The Northern Echo: Harry said the encounter took place in a field behind a busy pubHarry said the encounter took place in a field behind a busy pub (Image: PA)

The 40-year-old said she was only going public, having kept it a secret for two decades, because Harry wrote about the episode.

What did Sasha Walpole say about the encounter?

Ms Walpole described Harry as a “good friend” at the time and someone who was “a laugh”.

She said they had shared an interest in horses and her first job as a groom had been at Highgrove.

Ms Walpole, now a digger driver, said a lot of people at the time in their circle of friends would have been aware of what had happened.

She said: “I’m surprised Harry put it in his book. It was such a long time ago, we were teenagers. It just doesn’t really seem a big deal to me because I’ve obviously known for so long.

“Nobody from back then would be surprised that it was me and Harry. A lot of people knew about it.”

She added: “Our lives have gone in different directions since then. If I seen (sic) him in the street I would like to think that we could go for a drink. We were really good friends back then and I wish him all the best.”