Prince Harry’s Book Just Dropped—Here’s What Royal Experts Are Saying About It
Updated: Jan. 13, 2023
Rumors are swirling about what could grace the pages of the Duke of Sussex's memoir. Here's what we know about the highly anticipated book so far—and when you'll see it on stands.
Royals fans, rejoice—we finally have Prince Harry’s book in our hands. It was only a little over a year ago that Penguin Random House announced it was publishing the Duke of Sussex’s memoir, Spare. Now, royal followers are eager to know key details about Prince Harry’s book as it hits stands: Will he reveal anything new about his marriage to Meghan Markle? What will he say about late Queen Elizabeth or other members of the royal family? Will he talk about the passing of his mother, Princess Diana?
So many questions, so little information—but plenty of speculation. Let’s dive into what we know so far about Prince Harry’s memoir—and what royal experts have to say about it.
When is Prince Harry’s book coming out?
The world is now able to read Prince Harry’s memoir, ghostwritten by J.R. Moehringer. Penguin Random House announced that this much-anticipated book, titled Spare, will hit stores on Jan. 10, 2023—the perfect memoir to kick off the new year.
Ensure you get a copy before it sells out by ordering it now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble or your local indie bookseller.
What will Prince Harry’s book be about?
Ah, the million-dollar question that has royals enthusiasts in a tizzy: What exactly will Prince Harry discuss? According to Penguin Random House, the book will dive into Prince Harry’s life, from his childhood as Britain’s prince to his current role as a husband and father of two living in California.
“I’m writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become,” Prince Harry stated in the press release. “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.”
Sounds tame enough, right? Well, on the flip side, there’s serious speculation that Prince Harry’s book will drop some big royal bombshells. He and Markle did do that infamous Oprah interview back in March 2021, in which they revealed shocking details about their lives as royals. They discussed a conversation with a royal family member about how dark their son Archie’s skin tone would be, how Archie wouldn’t be given a royal title or security and Markle’s mental health struggles while a royal. They also talked about several factors that led to them stepping back from their royal duties in March 2020, among other topics.
How does the royal family feel about Prince Harry’s book?
People reports that, while he didn’t need their blessing to write his memoir, Prince Harry did let the royal family know it was coming. In a statement to People in July 2021, Buckingham Palace said, “Any clarification about the book would be a question for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.” The palace hasn’t officially commented on it since.
There’s buzz in the press, however, that the royal family is nervous about the upcoming memoir—a reaction that royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, who has covered numerous royal occasions over the years, thinks isn’t so far-fetched. “Its contents, which are unknown, will undoubtedly cause nervousness at the palace, especially as the Sussexes are so unpredictable and the rift between them and the royal family has not healed,” Fitzwilliams says.
What are royal experts saying about Prince Harry’s book?
While no one can say for sure what will be in Prince Harry’s memoir (except for, well, Prince Harry), Fitzwilliams shared his thoughts on what could be written in its pages. He says something the Duke of Sussex could talk about is his feelings about Prince Charles’s relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles. “We may learn what he thinks of the relationship between his father and Camilla during the nightmarish period of his marriage to Diana when Harry was very young, and possibly also his views on her today,” Fitzwilliams explains.
While tabloids have reported that Prince Harry’s book could reveal some royal scandals, one royal expert has gone on record saying they think it will be a tamer memoir. Omid Scobie, journalist and co-author of the book Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family, told the Royally Obsessed podcast, “I think as much as the press want this to be a burn book and an attack on the institution, it’s more just about his story. And of course, his story is so much more than just the few years of his life as the Duke of Sussex.”
As far as anything being off-limits in the book? Fitzwilliams says it’s unlikely Prince Harry will name the person who commented on Archie’s skin color. After all, Prince Harry said in the Oprah interview that he was “never going to share” details about that conversation.
Prince Harry will also reportedly not write anything to disrespect the late queen. “I have been told by sources that Harry really is going out of his way to make sure that there isn’t material in there that could be seen as negative towards the queen or her reign in any way whatsoever,” Scobie revealed on Royally Obsessed. “He really wants to celebrate her life and his relationship with her in that book.”
No matter what’s in the memoir, one thing’s for sure: It’s already a must-read for any royal enthusiast. As Fitzwilliams puts it, “Anything [Prince Harry] writes will be of interest, whether it is aspects of his childhood or revealing more about his courtship of Meghan.”
If you’re dying to know what’s in Spare, there’s really only one way to find out: Snag the memoir when it’s released later this year and dive in. While you’re waiting, indulge in these other captivating books to satisfy your royal curiosities.
Riveting royal reads
Sources:
- Penguin Random House: “Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Will Publish a Literary Memoir with Penguin Random House, Globally in Late 2022”
- Penguin Random House: “Spare”
- People: “Everything to Know About Prince Harry’s Upcoming Memoir: ‘I’m Writing This Not as the Prince'”
- People: “Prince Harry Told the Palace About His Memoir—but Would Not Have Expected to Need Permission”
- CBS Mornings: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle speak out
- Richard Fitzwilliams, royal commentator
- Royally Obsessed podcast: A Year Since Oprah
