Prince Harry's (38) autobiography is coming out soon and as it is gradually leaking out, it could contain a lot of interpersonal, institutional and societal explosives. These are the most important topics that the prince should also tease in the two interviews (ITV, CBS) announced for January 8th.
The concept of "the heir and the spare" has been followed by the royal family for centuries. The tradition is intended to ensure the succession to the throne within the family. The second-born child is considered a "reserve monarch" who must be willing to succeed to the throne if necessary until the "heir" fathers children of his own.
Heather Cocks, author of The Heir Affair, told Vanity Fair in 2022: "With the 'the heir and the spare' dynamic, you get one kid who's born for the top job and a second who's probably born with it growing up feeling like an understudy." In the Spanish royal family, this position within the royal family is even nicknamed "En La Sombra", which means something like "in the shadow".
Harry's "provocative" decision to call his memoir "Spare" makes it clear that he is "anything but" second to Prince William (40). Rather, he wanted to use his "unpolished" cover to show that he had "been through a lot," explains a brand expert to "Mail Online."
According to British media reports, the book will reportedly not be a harsh criticism of Harry's father, King Charles III. (74), included.
Harry's brother, Prince William, and possibly his wife, Princess Kate (40), are said to be attacked so severely that insiders fear media reports that the brothers will not be able to reconcile afterwards. The sibling rivalry and a fight between the brothers, which has already been shown in the Netflix documentary "Harry
In the trailer for Harry's interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, 55, the prince claims his family has shown "no willingness to reconcile" but he would "like to have his father and brother back". In the clip, in which no questions are heard, Harry also tells Bradby, "It never should have been like this," and references "the leaking and spreading" of issues, before adding, "I want a family, not an institution ." He also says, apparently referring to the royals: "They feel that it's better to somehow portray us as the villains".
The book probably also addresses Harry's grief over the death of his mother, Princess Diana (1961-1997). "The overall impression is that this is a man who never recovered from the trauma of his mother dying so young and then Meghan comes along and he projects a parallel with Diana on her," a source said "Sunday Times" quoted.
Harry will also reportedly not shy away from sensitive issues, such as his family's decision to encourage him and his brother to walk behind their mother Diana's coffin while thousands of spectators watched.
The press release announcing the memoir said: "'Spare' takes readers straight back to one of the most harrowing images of the 20th century: two boys, two princes walking behind their mother's coffin while the world full of sadness - and horror -". Harry will answer the questions billions of people were asking back then - What are these boys thinking and feeling right now? And how will her life develop now? - respond.
The book will also cover Harry's commitment to the military. A publisher press release describes him as a "husband, father, philanthropist, military veteran, spiritual well-being advocate and environmentalist" who "resides in Santa Barbara, California with his family and three dogs."
Penguin went on to say the book will cover Harry's "public life from childhood to the present day, including his commitment to service to others, military service which twice took him to the front lines in Afghanistan and the joy he as a husband and father".
"Spare" will be published by Penguin Verlag on January 10th. The German title of the book Harry co-authored with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist J.R. Moehringer (58) wrote is "Reserve". The Duke of Sussex will personally record the audiobook version and donate a portion of the proceeds to charity. Prince Harry reportedly received an advance of $20 million for the autobiography.
The book will be available in English in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa and Canada. In addition, it will be available in 15 other languages, including Spanish, Italian, German and Chinese.
The publisher summarizes the content of the book on its website as follows: "In its undisguised, unabashed frankness, 'Reserve' is a unique book full of insights, admissions, self-reflection and the hard-won conviction that love can conquer grief forever. " In an earlier statement announcing the three-part global publishing deal, Penguin Random House described the memoirs of the US-emigrated British royal as an "intimate and heartfelt memoir" and promised that "Prince Harry will be an honest and compelling personal portrait." will offer.
After the death of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022), in early September 2022, there were reports that Duchess Meghan's husband (41) is said to have defused the content of the book, which was completed in April 2022. However, that is not true, wrote Omid Scobie (41), who is considered a close friend of the couple, in early November. The co-author of the Harry Meghan biography Finding Freedom claimed in a piece for Yahoo News UK that passages had not been rewritten or adapted.
Buckingham Palace has so far refused to comment on the book. However, the royal family's lawyers are said to be on the alert.
