The Duke of Sussex’s memoir, Spare, was published on January 10, 2023. According to Penguin, the book publisher Spare sold 1,430,000 copies on its first day alone in the US, Canada, and the UK, and broke the record for “fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time,” according to Guinness World Records.
It was a ghostwritten work by J. R. Moehringer, an acclaimed writer in his own right. There are digital, paperback, and hardcover versions of the 416-page book, and it has already been translated into fifteen different languages. And if you want to fall asleep listening to Prince Harry at your bedside, a 15-hour audiobook version is also available, with Harry providing the narration.
In the book, Harry includes details about his upbringing, the tremendous impact Diana’s death had on his life, and his deployment to Afghanistan with the British Army. The discussion of the latter experience and his description of killing men as a chess game became controversial and had him backtracking on what he meant.
Read more: Prince Harry condemns ‘dangerous spin’ about his Taliban comments
Harry also discusses his father’s marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles, his now tense relationship with his elder brother, Prince William, his marriage to American actress Meghan Markle and the couple’s decision to step aside from their royal responsibilities. Spare has received largely mixed reviews, with some praising Harry’s candor and others criticizing the book for containing too many intimate details.
Prince Harry’s Spare (@transworldbooks) has achieved a third straight week in the UK Official Top 50 number one spot, selling 37,145 copies.
Read here: https://t.co/mNhfzKyqyf pic.twitter.com/v8usFbqF42
— The Bookseller (@thebookseller) January 31, 2023
The couple’s “Megxit” departure from the Royal family and the United Kingdom in 2020 has received both praise and harsh criticism. The royal family met on January 13 for the “Sandringham Summit,” which was labeled an “unprecedented” gathering in response to what has come to be known as ‘Megxit’ news. Queen Elizabeth II made a rare personal comment and was commended for how quickly she handled the situation. The couple agreed to “no longer be working members of Britain’s royal family” and to stop using their “Royal Highness” styles, according to an announcement on January 18, 2020. Harry and Meghan cited the British royal family’s toxic atmosphere and press scrutiny as their reasons for leaving.
Another publicity stunt?
Ironically, the couple has received more spotlight after Megxit than ever before. According to critics, the couple is benefiting financially and socially at the expense of the monarchy. In a famous interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, Harry and Meghan claimed that Megxit was caused by not receiving the support they requested from the royal establishment on topics like disputing false tabloid articles about Meghan and seeking her mental health treatment.
Read more: Prince Harry accuses brother William of 2019 physical attack
Harry also said in the interview that the members of his family who are closest to the royal institution are “trapped.” Numerous body language experts examined the interview and concluded that the couple was not completely honest. In their 2022 Netflix docuseries “Harry & Meghan,” Meghan suggested that the couple wished to relocate to another country where they would not be troubled by the Royal Rota.
Since leaving Britain, the couple has harshly attacked the Royal family and told the media several “inside” stories, which is in direct contrast to the couple’s claim that they wanted “privacy” when they left the Royal family. After the interview and docuseries, Spare is another book in a series of publicity shows.