As for the term frequently used by the royal family and the British media to describe Prince Harry since his birth 38 years ago, the same two groups, ironically, blamed the Duke of Sussex for naming his memoir SPARE. He was most outraged by the decision.
After publisher Penguin Random House revealed the book’s title, ruthless cover and January 10 release date, “royal sources” (aka anonymous palace aides), media critics and newspapers , wasted no time in sharing his breathless rage. “Vicious,” “cruel,” “playing the victim again,” and, surprisingly, “everything about Meghan,” were just a few of the angry responses.
Of course, calling the book a spare was a decision Prince Harry made early in the process, and it wasn’t a big surprise. For Harry, being a spare was one of the most defining aspects of his royal existence. was owned by
In the family business, Harry’s position as a reserve heir made him assume an obligatory role in the Royal Support Act at an early age. I was there. It was to support his more significant older brother, Prince William. It’s a strange and somewhat cruel existence, the result of a system built on hereditary privilege. Princess Margaret’s life as the Queen’s reserve is plagued by substance abuse and alcoholism, and Prince Andrew’s life is…well, better not to say too much about it.
Spares also serve purposes rarely acknowledged by royal and palace officials. That is, the resident scapegoat to protect the crown and higher-ranking families. Collateral damage when blame or diversion is needed. For those who’ve followed the royal beat long enough, the coincidental timing of certain revelations and stories about Harry already underscores this. It will be interesting to see if it does.
So far, only minimal official details about the book’s 416 pages have been released by the publisher. They describe SPARE as a title written “raw, unflinchingly honest” and a book full of “insights, revelations, self-examinations and hard-earned wisdom.” We’d also like to see prolific ghostwriter J.R. Moehringer, famous for encouraging his subjects to turn on the lights in the darkest parts of their stories.
For those who have already seen the manuscript of the book, Harry’s journey as a spare and the difficult decision to change his destiny and start a new life elsewhere is an important part of the book. . Filled with the Prince’s trademark cockiness, this memoir is also a surprisingly relatable tale of life. Admittedly, its opulent royal background is far beyond the world as we know it, but the themes explored in SPARE should resonate with readers of all backgrounds.
Coping with the grief and tragedy of losing a parent, accepting yourself, sibling rivalries, falling in love with someone your family doesn’t accept, are all part of the Duke’s human story.
Although overlooked in the press, Spare devotes its largest section to other important elements of the Duke’s life. can hear You’ll also hear candid insight into Harry’s quest to find purpose and why he chose to commit to a lifetime of service. Scheduled to be released a month after the documentary series ended, the intimate memoir will also “share the joy I’ve found in being a husband and father,” he adds.
For all the tabloid reports that Harry supposedly “destroys” his family (spoiler alert: he’s not), this book actually makes the reality of their near-impossible existence more empathetic. There were no last-minute rewrites or edits after the Queen’s death. The SPARE manuscript was completed almost five months before the monarch died. Details are in the notes at the beginning of the book.
No matter how careful Harry shares the parts of his story that involve others, there is still a very real risk of serious backlash from the institution and family. A palace aide recently told me of a “genuine fear” among senior members that the book would irreparably damage reputations and relationships. But for Harry, Spare’s larger intentions seem worth the risk. , the lessons learned also help show that no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think,” he said.
Hundreds of journalists, myself included, have written versions and snippets of the Duke’s story over the years. Now that Harry has built an independent life away from the royal family, he finally has a chance to set the often-inaccurately reported record straight. Freedom of Speech. And no matter how you feel about the guy, it’s hard not to agree that he has that right.
