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Spare by Prince Harry

 

Summary (from the publisher): It was 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 Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on.

For Harry, this is that story at last.

Before losing his mother, twelve-year-old Prince Harry was known as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything. He struggled at school, struggled with anger, with loneliness—and, because he blamed the press for his mother’s death, he struggled to accept life in the spotlight.

At twenty-one, he joined the British Army. The discipline gave him structure, and two combat tours made him a hero at home. But he soon felt more lost than ever, suffering from post-traumatic stress and prone to crippling panic attacks. Above all, he couldn’t find true love.

Then he met Meghan. The world was swept away by the couple’s cinematic romance and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. Over the centuries, leaving the Royal Family was an act few had dared. The last to try, in fact, had been his mother...

For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty. A landmark publication, Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

Review: Born the second son of the future King of England and the glamorous and beautiful Princess Diana, Prince Harry has never known a private life. When he was twelve, his life altered forever with the death of his mother. In the years that followed, he struggled to find where he belonged, mostly felt lonely, and lamented a life in the spotlight, since he believed that is what killed his mother. While joining the British Army in his twenties gave him a sense of belonging, after his service he was more lost than ever. Until he met Meghan and fell deeply in love. But the pair were hounded internationally by a ruthless press and their safety and mental health was in jeopardy. 

After a literal lifetime of having his story told, manipulated, and controlled by the press and the official royal family, this was the first opportunity Harry has ever had to use his own voice to tell his version of events. There is very much a sense in his writing of his desperate desire to set the record straight and inability to find closure and move on without doing so. I do think he gave his best effort, to the best of his ability, to be fair to his family and acknowledge both mistakes and also things they did well. But this is very much one version of events. I cannot even imagine the rage and uproar this must have caused among the royal family. And I do think Harry downplays the privilege of his life and emphasizes the hardships. Prince William, in particular, does not come off well in this and Prince Charles is right behind him. If only we could hear their versions too and compare notes. Just a very sad situation and a splintered family that didn't have to be. 

I listened to the audio version of this and loved that it was narrated by the author himself. He writes in short, punchy chapters and despite being a relatively long book, it feels like a fast read. It still feels absolutely wild to me that in my lifetime we are hearing a member of the royal family, in their own voice and own words, describe such things as injuries to their penis. What a break with tradition. Harry is not afraid to put it out there! I hope that writing this and sharing it was cathartic for him. He has had a sad life in many ways but the love he feels for his wife and children seemed very deep and genuine. 

Stars: 4

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