By Sheila Mcknezie-
The details and provocative title of Prince Harry’s memoir – with its ‘raw unflinching honesty’ – have been revealed.
Entitled SPARE, the Duke of Sussex’s story is expected to be released on 10 January.
The memoir’s title is an apparent reference to Prince Harry’s being a royal “spare,” not the first in line to succession. William, Prince of Wales, is next in line.
The 416-page book will be translated in 16 languages, from Dutch to Portuguese, and also will be released in an audio edition read by Prince Harry. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will be using proceeds from Spare to donate to British charities. He has already given $1.5 million US to Sentebale, an organization he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV/AIDS.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the book announcement.
Some of the proceeds from the book go to charity. The publisher confirmed this was in the form of two donations of 1.5m (£1.3m) and £300,000 respectively to the charities Sentebale and WellChild.
Some of the proceeds from the book will go to charity. The publisher confirmed the donation will be in the form of two donations of $1.5m (£1.3m) and £300,000 respectively to the charities Sentebale and WellChild
Sentebale, co-founded by Prince Harry in 2006, helps children and adolescents in Lesotho and Botswana struggling to come to terms with their HIV status. WellChild is a British charity that gives grants so young people with exceptional health needs can be cared for at home instead of in hospital.
It has emerged that details of Princess Diana’s funeral are mentioned in the book, and the publishers say: “SPARE takes readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow-and horror.
“As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling and how their lives would play out from that point on.”
Billed as “his story at last”, the book also delves into Prince Harry’s “personal journey from trauma to healing”.
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“Penguin Random House is honoured to be publishing Prince Harry’s candid and emotionally powerful story for readers everywhere,” said the publisher’s chief executive, Markus Dohle.
“He shares a remarkably moving personal journey from trauma to healing, one that speaks to the power of love and will inspire and encourage millions of people around the world.”
The fact Prince Harry has even decided to do the book was controversial enough, the announcement that he’s agreed to call it SPARE feels like blatant confirmation he hasn’t held back.
The memoir will be available in English in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa and Canada, and it will also be published in 15 other languages, including Spanish, Italian, German and Chinese.
When the deal for Prince Harry to write his story was announced in 2021, the prince promised he would reflect “the highs and lows” and be “accurate and wholly truthful”.
In its press release for the 38-year-old’s memoirs, Random House said: “Spare takes readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow and horror.”
The theme is picked up in the publicity statement for the book, which says: “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.”
The book will be published on the same date worldwide and it will be available in 16 languages.
The audio edition of the book is read by Prince Harry.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they would step back from royal duties and work to become financially independent in 2020. At the time, Buckingham Palace and senior royals expressed their disappointment and hurt at the announcement.
Harry and Meghan now live in the US with their two children, son Archie and daughter Lilibet.
The publisher’s description of the book’s author, which is likely to appear in the book, reads: “Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, is a husband, father, humanitarian, military veteran, mental wellness advocate, and environmentalist. He resides in Santa Barbara, California, with his family and three dogs.”