Just finished 'Spare'...

[HerReputationMadeItDifficultToProceed]

… and I encourage anyone who’s even vaguely interested in this story to give it a read. Especially if what’s been leaked has made you at all angry, because I think in context everything makes a lot of sense.

I wasn’t a Harry and Meghan hater before reading this, but I wasn’t a fan girl either. Like many Brits, I find a lot of Americans- especially West Coast Americans- quite irritating and Meghan firmly falls into that camp for me. I’m sure she’s nice enough, but she’s very American and very perky and much like Wednesday Addams, I don’t do perky. However, I suspect that her intentions and generally good and that like most of us she’s got good and bad qualities. She’s clearly ambitious and I think that she probably initially dated Harry based on that ambition and on getting a platform, although I think that she genuinely loves him now.

The ghost writer has done a great job at capturing Harry’s personality I think; he comes across as introspective and thoughtful but funny and bright.

I think that Harry has a good soul; I think that he’s kind and has had a hard time of it growing up. I also think he’s a bit clueless and naive and has been in a bubble, but I think he acknowledges that and wants to understand and change. Undoubtedly losing his mother at the age he was had more of an outward impact on him than it had on William. He’s also been a victim of his dad’s wishywashy parenting. It sounds like- and looks like to me from my vantage point as a normal citizen who knows bugger all except what I’ve seen in the media- that Charles has been there for his kids to an extent, but not in a hands on or especially useful way. It also seems clear that Charles has always put Camilla first. From almost the moment Diana died it seems that he wanted, above everything else, to rehabilitate Camilla’s image so that they could marry. I think that he put that above being a father and the way Harry writes about their relationship makes that clear too.

I also think that it’s suited the palace to portray Harry as dimwitted and feckless to show William in a better light and that Harry has every right to be angry about that and not want to play that game anymore (and to call it out now). Especially as it’s obvious that the palace haven’t kept up their side of the bargain and protected Harry from the media in return.

I also think that the media have treated H and M poorly and it’s clearly the case that the palace has used them and news stories about them to divert from other newsworthy problems… certainly Prince Andrew, perhaps William’s affair/s. Is Harry overly jumpy about the media and the paparazzi in particular? Yes, of course. Who wouldn’t be with his background. But they’ve also obviously been hounded and harassed.

I do think that Harry is on a journey that he isn’t at the end of yet, but I think that he realises that too. I think that he was always going to leave the royal family and that Meghan didn’t cause what’s happened, she was just the catalyst for it. I think that he’s been scapegoated and an afterthought within his nuclear family and I don’t blame him for being angry. I think that he means well and is essentially good. And I don’t think that anyone who’s read the whole book would be able to disagree.

More than anything I think it’s clear that the British Royal Family is no longer fit for purpose; the way they live, bring up their children, pay their members for work and demand unrealistic levels of protocol and formality is no longer working in the 21st century. These people need purpose and lives beyond the crown and those on the edges of the heir shouldn’t have to live their lives in service of the their. Realistically H and M could have worked as royals and had private interests, the RF chose not to bend to help them live fulfilling lives because of its own, outdated reasons.

A case in point being how utterly forgettable his wife is when she’s not the centre of attention. She’s as forgettable as the Duchess of Sussex as she was an actress. She isn’t someone who leaves a void in their absence.

Military wife here - I will never forgive him for his vile comments about the people who he supposedly killed while on tour. Real men don't speak like that. I also do not remotely believe his claims. He has lied about so many other things.

He is a pathetic waste of space. If this prompts any attacks on our soil then he'll have blood on his hands.

I haven't read the book. Up until now I've been fairly bored of them. Just wish they'd vanish. I won't waste my time reading the book. The excerpts I heard were poorly written and crass.

The excerpts I heard were poorly written and crass.

They were totally out of context if that's all you've read

Wow the majority of you are suckers. Harry is a halfwit, and Megham probably couldn't believe how easy if was to snare him in her trap. Does nobody question the lies that they have told. Pretty much everything they have said have been called out as either false, or at the least open to I interpretation..
Meghan was a failed actress. She, at the height of her fame, after years of social climbing and networking, was in a second rate show,that most people had to google to find out what it was, approaching her 40th birthday she hadn't realised her dream of stardom. That was only because she wasn't good enough. She purposely made her way here with an agenda. Scratch the surface is not hard to find the truth.
She is conniving and dangerous. I feel for Harry when he finally realise the truth

Having read the majority of the book I am surprised by some of the content, and not necessarily more sympathetic.

i hope Harry finds healing and peace. However I am surprised that there is 0 accountabilility for any of his actions, no empathy at all on how others might react

the book written so his brother understands his reason for leaving the UK ? Self indulgent / write it down but don’t publish

there is so much unprocessed ( in part surely justified) rage in this book, one can only feel sorry for Harry

if my brother criticised in public how I bring up my children, would I be minded to listen? Maybe with a supreme effort as I want the best for my three kids…

Harry reminds me of a toddler screaming and shouting - all needs to be on his terms - this is not how you get your father and brother back

may he find peace and May he find a way to reconcile with his family.

Meghan was a failed actress.

Yeah course she was Failed actresses earn over $2million don't they

I lost you as soon as you described Harry as bright…

he comes across as introspective and thoughtful but funny and bright

Introspective or navel gazing and tone deaf? Introspection means considering your own role, mistakes, flaws, development in the way life has turned out. It's taking accountability. It would entail showing awareness of the political, social, economic context of his life given he was part of one of the most powerful families in the world. I had to stop the book (borrowed it as I refuse to contribute to his millions) half way through as all he does is find excuses for his behaviour. It genuinely baffles me that anyone can feel sorry for him. He has contributed minimally to this world since he left the army, and will profit in the millions from people's inherent curiosity about the family he resents. Most millionaires, including his wife, have to work for their keep - be is singing, acting, running a business, playing a sport etc. He just has to narrate his life story to someone else...

Whatever I may think about the RF, there are countless under privileged people around the world who have benefited from their charity - particularly in poorer nations. I haven't seen any mention of what Harry is going to do with all his wealth - other than save it for his own children. And while he doesn't have to do anything with it, I find it very hard to be sympathetic for a man so narrow minded that he would rather harp on about minor past grievances than actually do something meaningful with his status.

I cannot fathom what else he's going to write about in his next 2 books.

What stories have been leaked about H&M ?

Do read it if you can. I have - twice. It's quite deep and very interesting; some of it is moving and some quite funny, especially when Harry talks of his larks at school.

The book bears little comparison to what the media have put out - which I expected. A good read in my opinion and good luck to him and his family.

If you have read the book could you tell me how much Earl Spencer was mentioned? Did he spend time with Harry and William following Diana's death as he said he and the Spencer family would?

Just finished?
Has your family got diarrhoea or something?
We've only got through about 150 pages and there's five of us and only one toilet.
We have found that the glossiness of the pages is far from ideal and consequently we will be reverting to sheets from the popular press once we have finished the book.

I don’t intend to read the book. I’m getting exasperated. As others noted Harry demonstrates lack of awareness of anything outside his cloistered world. His father was sent away to Gordonstoun when he was 8 years old. This public school ran a harsh regime specialising in outward bound activities and Charles was very unhappy. Sending young boys away from home was usual practice for the wealthy and the aristocracy and families living abroad. Charles did not do that to his sons nor whinge and moan about his lonely sad experience far away from home. And also wasn’t Diana’s mother a bolter? Didn’t She run off with an Argentinian polo player and Diana cared for by nannies. Churchill was so unhappy he sent letters begging to come home and rarely saw his mother an American heiress. Perhaps Meghan should watch film Corsage and consider how little has changed in relation to the restrictions surrounding monarchy. Meghan and Harry are poorly educated with little knowledge of life.

Hmmmm she wasn’t the lead in that show was she? And she didn’t have any other roles lined up for when it came to an end. Seems harry came along at just the right time because if they hadn’t got together it’s hard to see where she would have gone next. Cate Blanchett she is not

Charles did not do that to his sons nor whinge and moan about his lonely sad experience far away from home

You obviously haven't seen the Dimbleby interview whilst he did exactly that, whilst criticising the parenting he was subjected to.

And Harry & William were sent back to boarding school after they lost their Mother.

And your point is?

That Harry is not alone in finding a privileged childhood traumatic or miserable? It's almost like he might have a point.

Charles has does plenty of whinging about his miserable childhood and his distant and harsh father. We all know about it because he's told everyone.

And if you know it intend to read the book why are you exasperated?

Harry actually talks very warmly about his father, which you would know if you read it.

Harry demonstrates lack of awareness of anything outside his cloistered world

People seem to gloss over the fact he served in the military for a decade. That is not 'cloistered' at all and Harry would have met a lot of people in that time.

I find it quite pathetic that you criticise her as an actress. She'd made a very good living out of it. So what if she wasn't the lead actress.

Why don't you just call her a gold digger and be done with it, because that is what you are saying.

At the end of the day it’s one man’s opinion of his experiences. No one, including him, has the right to say he suffered more than his brother over their mother’s death, which I think is absolutely appalling to even consider for siblings.

and as far as the media goes, the book publicist’s would have provided all with samples of the book for promotional purposes. Then they got their hands on it. It seems to me once it was out in the public domain, the content is at the mercy of those who read it.

perhaps it needed better content?

A lot of people trot out “but other people have problems” and “but he’s wealthy”. Other people don’t have their darkest moments filmed and documented in newspapers and have hurtful lies printed about them for all the world to see. That must really mess with your head.

No one, including him, has the right to say he suffered more than his brother over their mother’s death, which I think is absolutely appalling to even consider for siblings.

He's not said that. Nothing like it. If you read the book you'd know that.

Thanks for such an indepth review, OP. I plan to buy I when I return home next week for my mum but then to borrow it from her.

I like both H and M. There's something about William I don't like much - I wasn't aware of his affairs, wtf.

I think the RF need to now go. We really don't need them do we, I mean King Charles couldn't go to COP even though its his passion, so really can't see their purpose....

I just checked my kindle version @gailforce1 : he gets seven mentions...in terms of Harry's childhood he is mentioned five times in relation to Diana's funeral. Then he's mentioned once when Harry is a-wooing Meghan (explaining where Diana is buried) and again in the epilogue, again in relation to Diana's grave. Perhaps he was very involved with the boys, but it's not mentioned if he was.

And Harry & William were sent back to boarding school after they lost their Mother.

Presumably because it was felt best for them to have some continuity in their lives and to be with their friends.

My sympathy for Harry is limited to the devastated 12 year old who remains the biggest part of him. He’s stuck in that nightmare and is lashing out at everyone and everything. It must be horrific to live with that for 25 years. I just wish he could get some proper consistent therapy to help him deal with that unresolved grief.

I’m listening to it on Audible, it’s very different hearing him reading it than reading it myself. Makes it more incredulous that he shared some of the things he did, knowing he would be reading it aloud.

I’m not far in but so far I feel like it’s heavy on Diana and there’s very little that’s Harry’s fault, it’s everyone else’s.

I Also felt to elude that he was born as some kind of medical spare part for William a bit 🤨