Is anyone else here buying the book?

[busymom]

Spare by Prince Harry--I bought a copy at Target this morning.


I remember getting up early to watch Diana marry Prince Charles.  I remember how jealous Charles would get when the crowds wanted to see Diana more than they wanted to see him.  (He came across as a jealous little boy.)  And, sadly I remember Diana's funeral and wondered how the early loss of their mother would affect her boys.  I've never been a fan of Camilla, and frankly don't think she should be "queen consort".   So, of course I am curious of what Harry has to say, as a royal "insider", of what goes on behind closed doors.  

Is anyone else here planning to at least read the book?  

[chiver78]

I intend to read it, definitely. 

[TheOtherMe]

I plan to read it.  

I don't think Camilla should be "queen consort" either and I'm betting she will be queen someday.

[Tennesseer]

I' m not really interested in this family's drama.  

I like this expression:

Say it, forget it.
Write it, regret it.

[Opti]

I might read it, but I won't buy it. I might read it simply because the British Press acts like drama queens on steroids and I wonder what molehills they will pretend will OM topple the monarchy. 

[Artemis Windsong]

I won't read it. This family is a train wreck from start to finish. Too large a drink of spite.

[busymom]

Since the British press seems hell-bent on destroying anything or anyone they don't "approve" of, I want to hear another side of their story.  Before I even realized Harry's wife wasn't white, I knew they'd give her a hard time since she was American by birth.  But then, I've always considered certain members of the royal family to be toxic anyway.  What amazes me is how many attempt to defend the royals, even Prince Andrew, who had been accused for years of having sex with underage girls.  Apparently anything is ok to some people, as long as you have royal blood.  

[haapai]

I'll gobble down the excerpts that I stumble upon but I probably won't read the book.  The excerpts that I've heard and read so far haven't really impressed me.  They've left me feeling a bit sick and sad. 

[swamp]

Jan 11, 2023 15:07:30 GMT -5 busymom said:

Since the British press seems hell-bent on destroying anything or anyone they don't "approve" of, I want to hear another side of their story.  Before I even realized Harry's wife wasn't white, I knew they'd give her a hard time since she was American by birth.  But then, I've always considered certain members of the royal family to be toxic anyway.  What amazes me is how many attempt to defend the royals, even Prince Andrew, who had been accused for years of having sex with raping underage girls.  Apparently anything is ok to some people, as long as you have royal blood.  

Let's call it what it is. 

[susana1954]

I put myself on the hold list today.  I want to read it, I think, but I don't want to buy it.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I don't think I will buy it and IDK if I will read it.  I have no doubt Harry has a lot of demons and trauma he needs to work out but after watching some of the interviews with him I don't know that the book is all that beneficial.   

He's making money the only way he knows how and I don't fault him, but IMO I think he'd be better off putting that energy towards therapy.   This is solving nothing except further dragging everyone through the mud, including himself.  Granted he is doing on his own terms but it's still the same mud slinging that has been going on since his mother was alive. 

I wish him well and hope he heals from his past.   IMO he would be better off doing exactly what he said he would and fading from the limelight for good.   Plenty of people have done it before him he could do so if he really chose to.

I think that is what Diana would have wanted from him, to live a peaceful happy life.  Not whatever is going on now with him and his beef towards his family.

[wvugurl26]

I think the problem is disappearing quietly into the background doesn't bring in money to pay the bills. I'm sure there's enough trauma to keep a therapist busy for years. I hope they find a path forward that brings them peace.

I don't really plan to read the book. The British media is awful which we already knew and his family didn't support him. I don't think I need to read a whole book of the blow by blow.

[Pink Cashmere]

Jan 11, 2023 15:43:54 GMT -5 swamp said:

Jan 11, 2023 15:07:30 GMT -5 busymom said:

Since the British press seems hell-bent on destroying anything or anyone they don't "approve" of, I want to hear another side of their story.  Before I even realized Harry's wife wasn't white, I knew they'd give her a hard time since she was American by birth.  But then, I've always considered certain members of the royal family to be toxic anyway.  What amazes me is how many attempt to defend the royals, even Prince Andrew, who had been accused for years of having sex with raping underage girls.  Apparently anything is ok to some people, as long as you have royal blood.  

Let's call it what it is. 

I love how you tend to call a spade a spade, instead of dancing around bullshit and trying to make bad shit not seem so bad.

[Opti]

Jan 11, 2023 15:07:30 GMT -5 busymom said:

Since the British press seems hell-bent on destroying anything or anyone they don't "approve" of, I want to hear another side of their story.  Before I even realized Harry's wife wasn't white, I knew they'd give her a hard time since she was American by birth.  But then, I've always considered certain members of the royal family to be toxic anyway.  What amazes me is how many attempt to defend the royals, even Prince Andrew, who had been accused for years of having sex with underage girls.  Apparently anything is ok to some people, as long as you have royal blood.  

I find the British press and the authors who live off of royal conjecture a sad, pathetic interesting bunch. They are so worried about their cash cow; they will say anything to continue the profit flow from being royal leeches.

Some of the headlines I've seen are pretty close to Jewish space laser crazy. One touted the book as a war on the royals.   Too many have parroted the ludicrous idea that Harry is endangering the monarchy. If the monarchy can survive Andrew and not Harry, they only have themselves to blame. Almost nothing he has revealed seems worth being upset about. Someone getting their melodrama on said that a bit on Colbert was injurious to the monarchy. It made a little fun of Harry and used Tom Hanks as the person who deserved a red carpet and heralds not Harry. No monarchy anywhere to be seen. I guess the stiff upper lip has been a lie for a long time and I didn't know until all this drama flinging and gnashing of teeth went on because he gave up being a senior royal and moved out of the country. 

Its like MAGAs. Piers Morgan and others are going on saying Harry called his family racist. Ignoring the fact, he did not use the word racist and heavily implied/said it was probably just one family member. I think Britain has decided to make Harry their Hillary Clinton equivalent. Anything he does must be horrible, simply because it was him.

[Opti]

I found this an interesting interview although I chose to drop out when the todger stuff started.

[Pink Cashmere]

I never really paid much attention to this family until all the drama about who Prince Harry married. I still didn’t pay that much attention to them, it was just difficult to avoid all the press about him and his wife.

What I remember about Princess Diana was that she seemed to be a kind and gentle woman, and that the way and reasons she died were horrible and made me sad for her. She deserved so much better than what happened to her.

I also knew just enough about the story to decide that I did/do not like Camilla or Charles. Someone has tried to explain to me Charles’ and Camilla’s story and how things are different for a “royal” family, and they have rules they have to follow. I didn’t want to argue about it, so I left it alone, and maybe I didn’t understand it because I’ve never believed that people are “special” just because of who their parents are, but I’ve always felt that if Camilla and Charles were so in love with each other, they should’ve acted with integrity to be with each other, instead of cheating on their spouses and subjecting their spouses to what I consider a form of abuse, infidelity. 

I have very black and white views regarding infidelity, and there is very little room for gray areas regarding that, in my mind.

It’s admittedly a horrible reference to a movie that is kind of a cult classic among my peers, but even Tony Montana said “all I have in this world is my balls and my word”. In my world, being a man (or woman) that is true to your word means something, that you have integrity, even if you are a no good ass criminal. Because at the end of the day, if you keep your word and your promises, it means something. At least to me, it does. That is why even my partner in life knows what my promises mean, because I don’t make them Willy nilly, I very rarely promise anything to anyone, so if I do, I mean it. 

I really felt for Princess Diana’s children when they lost their Mom, who seemed to be a kind and gentle soul, way too soon. And I don’t have and never had much respect for their Dad and Camilla. Going by the little I know about it, Princess Diana was an innocent victim of the rules of a “royal” family.

I applaud Prince Harry for making his own decisions about who he wanted to marry, despite the outrage. And I respect him for trying to live his life away from all the things that pertain to who he is IRT to the family he was born into, and trying to protect his wife and children from all the bullshit that comes with being a part of a “royal” family.

I’m still not really interested in reading his book though, lol.

[TheOtherMe]

I believe Harry is 100% correct when he says a big part of the problem is that Meghan is part African American and the Firm does not want Black blood in the lineage.  

Well, it's there now, if it wasn't there before.  

I read many books about Princess Di and I will read this one.  

I also think it was cruel of the family to make Prince William and Harry walk in the entourage behind their mother's casket.  Harry said he didn't know what was happening.  They had to meet and greet the crowds and he couldn't understand why all of these strangers were sobbing.  Now he understands they loved his mother, but he was too young to be thrust in to doing that.

[happyhoix]

Nah. Never got the whole ‘royalty’ thing to begin with, and if you take that aspect away, this is like any other overblown family drama on TV.

I did see a few minutes of video where Harry said William attacked him. I was hoping for two armored knights slugging it out with maces like Games of Thrones but William just shoved him over onto the dogs water bowl. When I was a kid, one of my older sisters punched my two front teeth out, so I guess I’m used to a more gangster style home life 😀

[Tiny]

According to Google:

The Duke of Sussex's highly-anticipated memoir Spare has been officially published after days of leaks. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan no longer receive money from the Royal Family, and earn their income from commercial arrangements.


I see the British Royal family as having power and money. It's not that they are "royal" or are part of some blood line - the ones that are closest to the money and power (the most highly visible ones) have a lot of privilege. That's how Prince Andrew gets a pass (or sorts).

Since Harry and Meghan - either have to live on their "savings" (the ultimate FIRE couple) or they have to make money. They seem to have plotted out a course to income where the goal is to stay relevant by keeping themselves in the news and selling their story. I see them as the ultimate "reality show" personas. I have never watched Keeping up with the Kardasians or the Housewives show or any of the other ones... but those shows did generate a lot of fame and fortune... so I'm guessing Harry and Meghan are following that formula.

I don't fault them. The whole British Royalty medio machine is not unlike "reality shows" to me - in that the it's biased, scripted, and tells a story that the producers want to tell.



I have always felt bad for William and Harry. Diana has been dead 25 years - but she never goes away for them - she's in the news every year. she comes up every time they have a life milestone. In a very public way.

I once was with a group of women - and the the topic of conversion turned to Royalty and inevitably to Diana and how "those boys went thru so much". It's like Harry and William will forever be 12/15 in the world's eyes.

[Tiny]

I won't be buying the book. I don't enjoy the "people watching" aspect of this form of entertainment.

I do understand why it's a fun form of entertainment for other people and I don't mind that they have fun reading it/talking about it. I don't really have a good/bad opinion of Harry/Meghan or the things they do that hits the media. Same goes for the British Royalty.

I would probably enjoy the whole thing more if it was a series set in a fantasy/sci fi setting. At that point it truly is about the what the author is trying to convey/what story they are trying to tell. And I would find that fun and interesting.

[tcu2003]

I somehow managed to get a copy from the library already, so I’m reading in it. So far my thoughts are he (or his ghostwriter) has a writing style I enjoy. And that while parts of his childhood were fantastic and full of privilege, it was also isolated and lonely, and lacked emotional closeness and empathy after his mom died.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 12, 2023 22:18:32 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

I somehow managed to get a copy from the library already, so I’m reading in it. So far my thoughts are he (or his ghostwriter) has a writing style I enjoy. And that while parts of his childhood were fantastic and full of privilege, it was also isolated and lonely, and lacked emotional closeness and empathy after his mom died.

The part about his childhood after his mother died is what he said on 60 Minutes.  He and William didn't even see each other when they attended the same school and it sounded like Charles was not a good father period.

[Spellbound454]

sounded like Charles was not a good father

How do you know?.... You are only getting half a story... which has been sensationalised to make money
and from what we know Harry's truth and the real truth are not the same thing.

He is very unpopular over here and is seen as a traitor and an overprivileged man child.
He has dined out on his mothers death and the whole "woe is me" without ever admitting any culpability for his own actions.
Always someone else's fault.

The Royals have said nothing......... and sometimes, silence is the loudest noise in the room.

[Spellbound454]

Meghan is part African American and the Firm does not want Black blood in the lineage.

That's not true, and Harry seems to have back-tracked on the "racist" allegation.

We loved her.... and welcomed her with open arms thinking she would be a great addition to the institution.

Then we realised that she was actually not a very nice person
and "not very nice" people come in all colours and creeds.

[Opti]

Jan 13, 2023 4:45:02 GMT -5 Spellbound454 said:

sounded like Charles was not a good father

How do you know?.... You are only getting half a story... which has been sensationalised to make money
and from what we know Harry's truth and the real truth are not the same thing.

He is very unpopular over here and is seen as a traitor and an overprivileged man child.
He has dined out on his mothers death and the whole "woe is me" without ever admitting any culpability for his own actions.
Always someone else's fault.

The Royals have said nothing......... and sometimes, silence is the loudest noise in the room.

The Royals have said nothing publicly which is usually how they do it. However, there was a huge amount of negative press that may have even predated the release of the book in Spain. I do not think that was all done by those who profit by reporting on the royals. I think some of that was from palace insiders to further poison the public against Harry to balance whatever came out in the book.

I'm wondering what piece of culpability you are seeking? He's admitted the drinks, drugs, and leaving Britian are things he chose to do, I think the British public and especially the royal pundits are so married to some weird mythos of who and what the royals are, they are delusional. Nothing that has been revealed in the book so for in excerpts about others seems at all dramatic except for the bit about Camilla planting stories to improve her standing in contrast. The lip gloss thing is so usual and trivial I guess only men wouldn't realize most women do not want to share their lip gloss for sanitary reasons. IMO good fathers don't cheat on their wives nor let them attempt suicide etc. His own mother set up his marriage for failure by decreeing then he could not marry Camilla and had to pick a virgin.

[Opti]

Jan 13, 2023 4:53:13 GMT -5 Spellbound454 said:

Meghan is part African American and the Firm does not want Black blood in the lineage.

That's not true, and Harry seems to have back-tracked on the "racist" allegation.

We loved her.... and welcomed her with open arms thinking she would be a great addition to the institution.

Then we realised that she was actually not a very nice person
and "not very nice" people come in all colours and creeds.

Neither of us know whether it is true or not. You aren't part of the royal family, and neither am I. Parts of the British public liked her and parts didn't. The press used her as fresh meat as they had with Kate, Camilla, and others.

I don't really know who a good person in the royals is or former royals. 

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 13, 2023 8:12:04 GMT -5 Opti said:

Jan 13, 2023 4:53:13 GMT -5 Spellbound454 said:

That's not true, and Harry seems to have back-tracked on the "racist" allegation.

We loved her.... and welcomed her with open arms thinking she would be a great addition to the institution.

Then we realised that she was actually not a very nice person
and "not very nice" people come in all colours and creeds.

Neither of us know whether it is true or not. You aren't part of the royal family, and neither am I. Parts of the British public liked her and parts didn't. The press used her as fresh meat as they had with Kate, Camilla, and others.

I don't really know who a good person in the royals is or former royals. 

[Spellbound454]

 I think some of that was from palace insiders to further poison the public against Harry to balance whatever came out in the book

Not really necessary..... his approval ratings was dire before this.

 Camilla planting stories to improve her standing in contrast.

Then you are just buying in to Harry's paranoia
because there is an equal amount of editors saying that this isn't what happened.

He is even blaming the press for publishing the fact, that he wrote, he killed 25 Taliban fighters ..... He said it, so the fault is his.
Stupid and dangerous yes..... but the fault is his own.


Harry and Meghan are not liked on their current trajectory because they are seen as blabbermouths.

Even the Hollywood elite don't want to get close, so any craving to mix with the A listers is scuppered........... This is largely because people don't want to be seen in paper back and lining someone else's pockets.

Privacy is something Harry has been talking about for years....... but doing the dirty on your own family doesn't count, it seems.

[Spellbound454]

  IMO good fathers don't cheat on their wives nor let them attempt suicide etc.

Yes Camilla was the third person in his parents marriage..... but again its skewed to one side.... because the truth is Diana had loads of lovers.

 You aren't part of the royal family, and neither am I

I am a subject, have known nothing else ........ and have seen most of them.

 His own mother set up his marriage for failure by decreeing then he could not marry Camilla and had to pick a virgin.

Did She? ... You do realise "The Crown" was fiction and not a documentary.

No-one knows what happened there and the Royals aren't going to say.

[busymom]

First of all, it's always been well known that a virgin was a priority for the wife of a future king.  I remember the big fuss when Andrew was married, because Sarah was NOT a virgin, and he was only the brother to Charles.  


Secondly, why does any statement from Buckingham Palace get thrown out as a "fact".  Do you really think they'll allow anything to come out about Charles or William that makes them look like anything but saints?  It was pretty hush-hush when there were rumors that William was fooling around behind Kate's back.  Obviously, the Firm is going to back William, the future king, whatever mischief he gets himself into.


If Harry leaves the country, and tries to correct any lies told about him, then more power to him.  The British press is a joke anyway, and needs to be called out.  I'm more likely to believe what Harry has to say over any "official" palace news.