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The royal family

SPARE - Harry’s book release announced

630 replies

Rinoachicken · 27/10/2022 11:34

So he’s called it ‘Spare’ and it’s being released on 23rd Jan.

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shortfrench · 27/10/2022 12:11

PoseyFlump · 27/10/2022 11:55

I like the title. They fucked over a little boy making him walk behind his mother's coffin and now he's fucking with them. Good for him.

Nothing to do with 'heir and spare' at all

Coucous · 27/10/2022 12:12

A title certainly chosen to garner discussion and more publicity. I doubt Harry seeks sympathy from anyone. It's hardly going to change his life.
The media and the public have made it possible for him to actually earn this much from a book. I can't see how any member of the RF could have possibly made that much money from a book in the past.

I will be pre-ordering. I can't see it on amazon yet.

CarpeVitam · 27/10/2022 12:15

@RedHelenB

"He was almost a teenager so hardly a little boy."

Of course he was still a little boy! 🤦‍♀️

Ladytreacle · 27/10/2022 12:17

I wonder how many people will buy his book.

Given the fee Harry negotiated with the publishing house, it’s clear that they expect this to be a bestseller. All signs suggest that they are likely to be right.

RebOrHon · 27/10/2022 12:19

I did my first ever public snort-laugh when I heard the title🫢

VariationsonaTheme · 27/10/2022 12:22

CarpeVitam · 27/10/2022 12:15

@RedHelenB

"He was almost a teenager so hardly a little boy."

Of course he was still a little boy! 🤦‍♀️

Only on mumsnet can a thirteen year old be both a little boy and also only a couple of years off being an adult 🙄

He had no problems being part of the RF and all it entails until a few years ago. He’s making money from his status, that’s all this book is and he will continue to do so for the rest of his life in one way or another. He could have dealt with his family grievances and ‘healing’ privately but that doesn’t pay.

SequinsandStilettos · 27/10/2022 12:22

It's a great title.
Charities will benefit.
He has every right to tell his story.
He was twelve when his mum died - still a child in my book.
He could do with going on the Stately Homes thread (you brought me up in a stately home, didn't you? Wink) - he'd find some empathy there.

PoseyFlump · 27/10/2022 12:23

He didn't seem to mind remaining close to "them"

At what point should he have left? Straight after his mother's funeral? Abused woman don't leave immediately. There's lots of brainwashing and control. It's so easy to say because he's wealthy that we shouldn't see it the same way. He was fucked up by his family. End of.

ShamedBySiri · 27/10/2022 12:24

It wreaks of bitterness but his adored mother referred to doing her duty, producing an heir and a spare, whether other people referred to him as a spare before her I wouldn't know so I couldn't say it came from her in the first place, but it was a phrase she used publicly.

Tbh I think the concept of heir and a spare is common among the landed gentry. Of course in the case of Diana and her brother Charles, she felt unwanted as there was pressure for her mother to produce a male heir. The opportunity to produce a spare never arose in their case, but the concept would not have been unfamiliar in those circles.

I have a wealthy b-I-L (massive odious snob) whose older brother inherited a substantial estate and being the younger one he got a holiday home on the estate and I suppose some inherited wealth plus an easy job for life via connections. He would defend primogeniture to the hilt but none the less I think he's a bit bitter at not getting the full whack.

Younger siblings up and down the country miss out on the lottery win. Most get on with it. In Harry's case it meant he could have enjoyed many of the privileges and wealth whilst not having the onerous responsibilities. It wasn't until a certain person came on the scene that it ever occurred to me he might feel bitter about his position in the pecking order rather than grateful.

It's honestly a mystery to me. I've no idea why he should feel resentful about it but it seems he does.

InsertPunHere · 27/10/2022 12:26

I think it's a good title.

PoseyFlump · 27/10/2022 12:26

CarpeVitam · 27/10/2022 12:15

@RedHelenB

"He was almost a teenager so hardly a little boy."

Of course he was still a little boy! 🤦‍♀️

Can't believe the 'almost a teenager' comment.

Coucous · 27/10/2022 12:30

A bunch of adults triggered by the word "Spare". So you're allowed to go on and on here about how much he's a spare but he can't use that word?

😂😂😂😂

JackiePeralta · 27/10/2022 12:31

Charities will definitely NOT benefit. Harry has offered them royalties only (ie not the large advance he has taken). In order to be any royalties at all, the advance has to be recouped in full from royalties earned. The book will have to pretty much outsell the bible and Koran together for that to happen. PRH make profits and earn market share from the book long before royalties are due. Even on one of the most generous royalty rates available, the book will Need to sell more than 28m copies. For reference, Michelle Obama’s book (one of the best selling boots ever) has sold about 17m copies. Book royalties are really, really poor with reductions and deductions for eg breathing. All the pre publication legal work will also be on Harry’s tab (probably out of the advance).

all a long winded way of saying that he can offer the proceeds to charity, but there won’t be any.

Hilarymantelspencilsharpener · 27/10/2022 12:31

PoseyFlump, it's well documented the young princes were told they didn't have to walk behind their mother's coffin, but Harry was the one who pushed for it, while William didn't want to. The Queen and Prince Philip wanted to keep the boys out of the public eye after their mother's death
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/prince-philip-tony-blair-alastair-campbell-princess-diana-funeral-prince-william-prince-harry-a7903186.html

Lockupyourbiscuits · 27/10/2022 12:32

They should have called it the gooseberry as he was always allowed to hang around William and Kate so he didn’t feel the spare and pushed out.
I bet they wish they hadn’t bothered.

He needs to sack his therapist

JackiePeralta · 27/10/2022 12:33

Michelle Obama’s being one of the best selling biogs, not boots. But I imagine she’d do an excellent boot range.

Georgeskitchen · 27/10/2022 12:33

Sounds like it's going to be a humungous whinge-fest about how hard done by he is. He had freedom in his younger years that William could only dream about, being coached in the ways of the monarchy from a very young age.
As for the walking behind Diana's coffin, I believe the actual story ( and this has been.confirmed by royal commentators) is that William and Harry were adamant that they would do it, but the family thought it would be too much. Prince Philip stepped forward and told them he would walk alongside them for support.

Motnight · 27/10/2022 12:35

It's a great title!

Ostryga · 27/10/2022 12:38

Wow. Popped in here to see the chaos after seeing the book announced.

Wasn’t disappointed. Harry/Meghan haters are so weird to see. Like a strange social experiment gone wrong. Funny though!

Wishiwasinmalta · 27/10/2022 12:39

Spare? Spare me! I despair! When will this child get over himself?

PoseyFlump · 27/10/2022 12:39

Hilarymantelspencilsharpener · 27/10/2022 12:31

PoseyFlump, it's well documented the young princes were told they didn't have to walk behind their mother's coffin, but Harry was the one who pushed for it, while William didn't want to. The Queen and Prince Philip wanted to keep the boys out of the public eye after their mother's death
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/prince-philip-tony-blair-alastair-campbell-princess-diana-funeral-prince-william-prince-harry-a7903186.html

@Hilarymantelspencilsharpener that's behind a paywall. What's the actual source of the information?

donttellmehesalive · 27/10/2022 12:40

I thought they wanted to distance themselves from the RF and live quieter lives in California away from scrutiny. So why do they keep popping up every time the dust settles. I thought he was a knob when he dressed as a Nazi and I haven't seen anything yet to change my mind. Tiresome chasing of relevancy and cash.

ShamedBySiri · 27/10/2022 12:40

Also wasn't it Blair's idea to have them walking along behind? I think the story went that Prince Philip bawled him out and sent him packing with a flea in his ear the first time it was suggested but somehow the suggestion remained and I've no idea who continued to push for it after that.

But without Blair (Alistair Campbell?) suggesting it in the first place I doubt it would have happened. And as much as the sight of them played on the nation's heart strings, if they had just been quietly included at the end in the way George and Charlotte were at The Queen's funeral I'm sure everyone would have accepted that as entirely normal. I suppose it was about protecting Charles - they were his shield from an angry public. Could the procession have worked without any of the Royals following along behind?

derxa · 27/10/2022 12:40

Poor wee soul 🙄

BlueRidge · 27/10/2022 12:42

Novella4 · 27/10/2022 11:58

@BlueRidge
Who would want to be monarch ??
I'll give you clue - money , servants , the chance to opt out of laws you don't like , freedom to get up to god knows what for decades ...
They aren't doing it out of duty you know - they love to spin that line and the gullible lap it up.

There's the door Charlie - don't let it hit you on the way out

The wider family get much of that anyway, without the burden of the actual crown.
Harry had quite a nice number as far as I can see - it pisses me off to hear him whinge incessantly when he had a better start in life than 99% of the world and even now has more money and opportunities than most people's wildest dreams.
He should shut the eff up now and count his blessings - a wife and two beautiful healthy children, freedom, money and a massive home.

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