Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare' to go on sale in January


Gillian Duncan
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Prince Harry’s memoir Spare will be released in the New Year, it has been announced.

The book will go on sale on January 10, according to the publisher.

It has been suggested the title is a reference to the phrase “heir and a spare,” which could provide an insight into Prince Harry's feelings about his place in the royal family.

The book covers the death of his mother, Princess Diana, as well as her funeral.

“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,” said the publisher, Penguin Random House.

“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.”

The book also explores the prince's “personal journey from trauma to healing”.

“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,” reads a description of the book.

William (left) and Harry at the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. Reuters
William (left) and Harry at the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. Reuters

In September, it was reported Prince Harry was seeking last-minute “refinements” to his autobiography because he feared some of it may not be well received after Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

The Duke of Sussex was said to be worried that it may be seen as “insensitive” following the recent flood of support for the British monarchy.

Experts questioned whether the changes may have come too late for publisher Penguin Random House, which had by that point already signed off the final draft.

It is not known whether changes were made to the book, which was ghostwritten by Pulitzer Prize-winner JR Moehringer and completed this summer.

  • Doria Ragland, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the Ms Foundation Women of Vision Awards in New York City. Getty
    Doria Ragland, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the Ms Foundation Women of Vision Awards in New York City. Getty
  • Prince Harry and his wife Meghan attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles in April. Getty
    Prince Harry and his wife Meghan attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles in April. Getty
  • The royal couple speak onstage at the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala in New York in December 2022. Getty
    The royal couple speak onstage at the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala in New York in December 2022. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan watch as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is placed into the hearse following the state funeral service at Westminster Abbey in central London in September 2022. AP
    Prince Harry and Meghan watch as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is placed into the hearse following the state funeral service at Westminster Abbey in central London in September 2022. AP
  • Prince Harry and Meghan pay their respects at the Palace of Westminster. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan pay their respects at the Palace of Westminster. Getty
  • Prince Harry, Meghan and Kate, Princess of Wales, attend a service for the reception of Queen Elizabeth's coffin at Westminster Hall. AFP
    Prince Harry, Meghan and Kate, Princess of Wales, attend a service for the reception of Queen Elizabeth's coffin at Westminster Hall. AFP
  • The Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan meet members of the public outside Windsor Castle. Getty
    The Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan meet members of the public outside Windsor Castle. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan leave after a service of thanksgiving for the queen. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan leave after a service of thanksgiving for the queen. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York in September 2021. AP
    Prince Harry and Meghan at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York in September 2021. AP
  • Prince Harry and Meghan on the cover of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world edition, in September 2021. Reuters
    Prince Harry and Meghan on the cover of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world edition, in September 2021. Reuters
  • Prince Harry and Meghan are interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. Reuters
    Prince Harry and Meghan are interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. Reuters
  • Prince Harry and Meghan shared this image on social media in February 2021 to announce they were expecting their second child. AFP
    Prince Harry and Meghan shared this image on social media in February 2021 to announce they were expecting their second child. AFP
  • Prince Harry and Meghan visit Canada House, London, in January 2020. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan visit Canada House, London, in January 2020. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan visit Auwal Mosque on Heritage Day during their royal tour of South Africa in September 2019. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan visit Auwal Mosque on Heritage Day during their royal tour of South Africa in September 2019. Getty
  • Prince Harry, Meghan and their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor in South Africa in September 2019. Getty
    Prince Harry, Meghan and their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor in South Africa in September 2019. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan meet Beyonce Knowles-Carter and Jay-Z at the European Premiere of Disney's The Lion King at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London, in July 2019. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan meet Beyonce Knowles-Carter and Jay-Z at the European Premiere of Disney's The Lion King at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London, in July 2019. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan pose for a photo with the New York Yankees before their baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at London Stadium in June 2019. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan pose for a photo with the New York Yankees before their baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at London Stadium in June 2019. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan pose with their newborn son Archie in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle in May 2019. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan pose with their newborn son Archie in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle in May 2019. Getty
  • Meghan, joined by her mother Ms Ragland, shows her new son to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in May 2019. AP
    Meghan, joined by her mother Ms Ragland, shows her new son to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in May 2019. AP
  • Prince Harry and Meghan officially open Number 7, a Feeding Birkenhead citizen’s supermarket and community cafe in Merseyside in January 2019. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan officially open Number 7, a Feeding Birkenhead citizen’s supermarket and community cafe in Merseyside in January 2019. Getty
  • Prince William, the Princess of Wales, Meghan and Prince Harry attend a Christmas Day church service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in December 2018. Getty
    Prince William, the Princess of Wales, Meghan and Prince Harry attend a Christmas Day church service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in December 2018. Getty
  • Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan and the Duchess of Cambridge attend a service marking the centenary of the First World War armistice at Westminster Abbey in November 2018. Getty
    Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan and the Duchess of Cambridge attend a service marking the centenary of the First World War armistice at Westminster Abbey in November 2018. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan visit Redwoods Tree Walk in October 2018 in Rotorua, New Zealand. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan visit Redwoods Tree Walk in October 2018 in Rotorua, New Zealand. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan visit an exhibition of Tongan handicrafts at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre in October 2018 in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan visit an exhibition of Tongan handicrafts at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre in October 2018 in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan visit the University of the South Pacific in October 2018 in Suva, Fiji. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan visit the University of the South Pacific in October 2018 in Suva, Fiji. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan address the public during a Community Event at Victoria Park in October 2018 in Dubbo, Australia. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan address the public during a Community Event at Victoria Park in October 2018 in Dubbo, Australia. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan meet a koala during a visit to Taronga Zoo in October 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan meet a koala during a visit to Taronga Zoo in October 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan arrive at the University of Chichester's Engineering and Digital Technology Park during an official visit to West Sussex in October 2018. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan arrive at the University of Chichester's Engineering and Digital Technology Park during an official visit to West Sussex in October 2018. Getty
  • The queen, Meghan, Prince Harry, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF 100th anniversary fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in July 2018. Getty
    The queen, Meghan, Prince Harry, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF 100th anniversary fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in July 2018. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan on their wedding day in May 2018. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan on their wedding day in May 2018. Getty
  • Prince Harry places a wedding ring on his new wife's finger. Getty
    Prince Harry places a wedding ring on his new wife's finger. Getty
  • Meghan and Prince Harry head to their evening wedding reception at Frogmore House. Getty
    Meghan and Prince Harry head to their evening wedding reception at Frogmore House. Getty
  • Prince Harry and Meghan walk through the corridors of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on their way to a reception for young people at the Palace in February 2018 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty
    Prince Harry and Meghan walk through the corridors of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on their way to a reception for young people at the Palace in February 2018 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty
  • Prince Harry and his then-fiancee Meghan visit Nottingham for their first official public engagement together in December 2017. Getty
    Prince Harry and his then-fiancee Meghan visit Nottingham for their first official public engagement together in December 2017. Getty

According to reports in UK newspapers, the duke had earlier been told to revise the manuscript because it was regarded as being “too touchy-feely,” with much of the material devoted to his mental health.

Another report claimed the publisher found the first draft variously “disappointing” and “too emotional”.

The book’s proceeds will be used to support charities including Sentebale and WellChild.

The memoir will be available in English in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa and Canada.

It will also be published in 15 additional languages, including Spanish, Italian, German and Chinese.

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the book's details.

The memoir is part of a three-title deal worth £36.8 million ($39.9m).

Updated: October 27, 2022, 4:54 PM