What Will Be In Prince Harry’s January Tell-All Memoir, “Spare?”
On Thursday, October 27, 2022, Penguin Random House finally released long-awaited official details of Prince Harry’s upcoming memoir. As the second-born child of Charles and Diana, he’s known his whole life that he is The Spare and not The Heir. But what will be in the 416 pages of this highly-anticipated tell-all from the Royal Family’s wild child?
The Book’s Start
The image of young Prince Harry and Prince William walking behind the late Princess Diana’s coffin in the streets of London is seared into the hearts and minds of millions worldwide. Just a 12-year-old grief-stricken boy, he was put out to march for the crowds and cameras to see the saddest moment of his life. His head was down, and people’s hearts sank along with him.
Many people wondered how these two boys’ lives would play out from that point on. Spare, releasing on January 10, 2023, and available for pre-order now, is Prince Harry’s story from that September day in 1997 to today.
“With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief,” said today in a Penguin Random House press release.
For those who want to hear the story from Harry, an audio edition read by the author himself will also be released simultaneously.
What Will The Book Be About?
In a previous press release, the book publisher stated the book will be “In an intimate and heartfelt memoir from one of the most fascinating and influential global figures of our time. For the first time, Prince Harry will share the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him.
It will cover his life in the public eye from 12 years old to the present day, including his dedication to service, the military duty that twice took him to the frontlines of Afghanistan, and the joy he has found in being a husband and father.
Prince Harry will offer an honest and captivating personal portrait, one that shows readers that behind everything they think they know lies an inspiring, courageous, and uplifting human story.
“I’m writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become. I’ve worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively, and my hope is that in telling my story—the highs and lows, the mistakes, the lessons learned—I can help show that no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think,” said Prince Harry in a press release.
“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to share what I’ve learned over the course of my life so far and excited for people to read a firsthand account of my life that’s accurate and wholly truthful.”
“Prince Harry has harnessed his extraordinary life experience as a prince, a soldier, and a knowledgeable advocate for social issues, establishing himself as a global leader recognized for his courage and openness. It is for that reason we’re excited to publish his honest and moving story,” said Markus Dohle, CEO of Penguin Random House.
What Will Spare Include, Specifically?
On Friday November 4, 2022 Omid Scobie, Senior Royal Editor and close confidant to both Harry and Meghan, gave the world some additional details about the book’s contents not previously revealed in his YahooNewsUK regular column.
“Among those who have already had sight of the book’s manuscript, Harry’s journey of being the spare, plus that difficult decision to change his destiny and start a new life elsewhere, serve as significant parts of the book. Filled with the prince’s trademark cheekiness, this memoir also tells a surprisingly relatable life story,” he wrote.
“Coping with grief and the tragic loss of a parent, the struggles of accepting oneself, sibling rivalry, and falling in love with a person your family doesn’t accept are all part of the duke’s very human story,” his column continued.
” SPARE dedicates its largest sections to other key elements of the duke’s life. Readers will hear moving anecdotes from the frontlines of Afghanistan and his time in the military, plus honest insights into Harry’s quest to find purpose and why he chose to commit to a lifetime of service,” he added.
For those who believe it will be a book trashing his family and the Royal tradition and institution, it doesn’t appear that it will.
“For all the tabloid reports about Harry supposedly “trashing” his family (spoiler alert: he doesn’t), the book actually offers a more sympathetic look at the realities of their near-impossible existence, Scobie stated.
“There were also no last-minute rewrites or edits after the Queen’s death. SPARE’s manuscript was completed almost five months before the monarch’s passing, a detail that will be acknowledged in a note at the start of the book,” Scobie unveiled to the public.
Spare Will Support Charities
Prince Harry has to chosen donate some of his book proceeds to British charities he has supported for years:
- Sentebale, an organization he founded with Prince Seeiso in their mothers’ legacies, which supports vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV/AIDS will receive £1.3 million.
- WellChild, which he has been Royal patron of for fifteen years will receive £300,000. They make it possible for children and young people with complex health needs to be cared for at home instead of hospital, wherever possible.
‘Spare’ Is Part of Harry’s Financially Independent Path from Royal Life
Lucrative book deals are just one part of building a new, financially independent life, away from the Royal Family. Meghan’s Archetypes podcast has soared to record-breaking success and Harry’s forthcoming book is another part of their ‘new life’ plan.
A 2020 statement on their site said:
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family, and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”
“It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. “
“This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”
“We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge, and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.”
More From Planner At Heart
