Strangest bits in Spare…

[Motorcycleemptyness]

i haven’t quite finished it yet but I wanted to read a thread about some of the weirder bits of Spare, and I haven’t seen a thread where people were discussing those without the ‘H&M’ vs the rest of the RF debate. There are definitely some parts which have made me really question why they were included, and I was wondering if anyone else had any similar thoughts.

The inclusion of the imagery of the poppy fields, and how heroin funds the Taliban. Fair enough. We all know that. The rest of the book is one long ode to posh people taking drugs. Does Prince Harry think the cocaine he takes is gently knitted by fairies and delivered to him by unicorns? Do the drugs he takes not contribute to war and terrorism and misery across the rest of the world (and indeed misery and crime in the UK, where he is 5th in line to be monarch!) I found this quite a strange passage and I was wondering if anyone else had any thoughts, or am I just over thinking it?

Elizabeth Arden cream. ‘Mummy’s lips’. ‘Todger’. Why? But really, why? Why was this included? Why did anyone think it or commit it to paper, and then publish it? Why did I read it? Why am I typing it here? ARGH.

What he actually thinks the relationship between the royal family and the press should actually be. Only reporting true things? Someone had a photo of him taking cocaine. Dressed as a nazi. Calling his colleague a ‘P*ki’. He wasn’t happy, but it was all true. Should journalists not be allowed to report true things? Or should they only be reporting things he wants them to report? Does Andrew get to choose that too? What about everyone else?

What the actual royal family should look like. This was mind bending. He seems to be perfectly happy with the idea of the monarchy, an institution which is predicated on the idea that they’re inherently superior to the rest of us, and that’s their birth right, but seems to massively struggle to apply that to himself and William. If a monarchy is the best system, why shouldn’t the heir be treated differently to the spare? (I don’t believe it is the best system and wish we could abolish them all but I don’t understand how one can believe one but not the other!).

Anyone else have any interesting thoughts?

when he’d mush up a bunch of opal fruits / starburst for the rush

Also in places, so hyperbolic it can’t be taken seriously. Especially when he is idealising / devaluing women.

I haven't read the whole thing but watched interviews and agree with OP, I cannot fathom the decision making behind the things you mention. I wish I could stop thinking about it but I find it so baffling. The 25 thing I think is insane. Is the that naive to think this wouldn't make his family a massive target or is he a bit arrogant in thinking he is the chosen one to force the military to stop lying about what's involved in his quest to lower suicide rates in veterans. I mean, its a noble cause but why should he be held up as a moral crusader, yes he killed in war, he was also supported by extra military security (I'd imagine) as he was moved a couple of times when his presence was seen as a risk to his colleagues. If the military is 'his place' then why doesn't he understand why veterans don't talk with the media or civilians about kills in war. I'm feeling exasperated but also hooked with bemused interest!! I think he comes across as very charismatic and quite funny and warm but not much real self awareness. This is worrying.

Great idea for a thread.

The ‘hatred of smugness, fakery and all things posh’
pot meet kettle

His pettiness of his oneupmanship with William. A example: stating that Williams likeness to Diana is fading. Later he lists his own commonality with Diana, eyes, nose etc.

Harry is saying he looks like Diana?

.

Aye, in his dreams

I think the family resemblance is there.

I read it more as in he’s one-upping his brother. As he makes a point to state Williams resemblance is fading.

To the OP, liked your point on drug taking funding crime etc. And yes jarring how he ignores that or isn’t aware enough to make the connection. When he does something it’s always justified and therefore legitimised. He presents people with opposing views such as his brother, as 2 dimensional. As though they have no inner life. And yet that’s his brother who he has grown up with. Throws up questions around an inability to relate, or a lack of empathy, trait of dehumanising people, and lack of object constancy etc

I haven't read it, but I think all the throwing shade at William is very bad, especially, because lots of people kept quiet about his teenage misdemeanors, to protect him from a backlash and to keep him safe. By stirring up antagonism towards others, he is risking making them figures of loathing. It's very bad.

Yeah I agree his vague hints about others v damaging. And strategic.

Also found the paragraph concerning Pat the matron particularly hard to read. The way he discusses her, pigeon holes her, reduces her to a 2d character too. Not only is the bullying disturbing, so is the dehumanising of her. He does this a lot. He even used perceived details of the matron to justify his bullying behaviour. Also because she (apparently) laughed along a couple of times. He used that to try and normalise the whole anecdote. Thing is, did she really laugh along? Is he misremembering as he is prone to (by his own admission)? Did she feel like she had humour him and play along because of who he was? Just like his ‘friend’ in the army who didn’t have the platform to call out the racist nickname?

Also whilst on the matron topic, the whole mothering and sexualising of the matrons was inappropriate and shocking. Drawing parallels between his wife and mother continues the theme. As does the cream and frost bitten body part episode. Freud would have a lot to comment on. Disturbing. Surprised he was encouraged to include that sort of detail.

The Pat episode is really shocking. The Elizabeth Arden cream episode, the lost virginity, the kill number, the drug use - what was he thinking?

Both him and Meghan need to shit or get off the pot. Their vague accusations which never say anything is manipulative and cruel. Just say it!!!

Like letting the vague racism accusation on Oprah spill out and fester so HMTQ had to put out a statement then TWO YEARS LATER after she and his grandad had endured that then died, denied it.

Gaslighting, poisonous twats.

Really? I think he looks a lot like young Philip.

Loving his idea that Mummy hated all things posh. That would be why she was happy to sponge posh holidays off her rich boyfriends, then, and made a fuss about not being HRH.

Mummy was born of the same circle. I mean, she did have royal blood from her ancestors.

Yeah I found that hard to compute. She was a member of the aristocracy, he’s a prince. They grew up in acres of green, with butlers and silver domes and boarding schools - they are posh! She didn’t hate her privileged position and lifestyle. Nor does he.

Maybe he thought it would make him sound salt of the earth like us little folk?

I think the choice of picture on the front is fairly bizarre. It reminds me of those photofit mugshots of criminals. Also Alfred E. Neuman

I haven’t and won’t get around to reading the book (nothing against, just other priorities). From the exerts it sounded like the Harry vs William bits might still be 2 brothers stuck in their 12 & 15 yr old rivalry (due to horrible trauma). Eg ‘no I look more like mummy’. Does it seem like this in the book?

I wonder whether the reason for the animosity against William is that perhaps William has a more realistic memory of their mother than he does. Harry seems both to idolise her and to be determined to make money out of her memory. William was that much older when she died, and was forced by her into being a bit of an emotional prop - she didn't seem to hide it from him when she was upset. Maybe he has a more realistic view of her which Harry doesn't like?

The book is jaw dropping because so many things he says are crackers!!! The animals he keeps meeting giving him signs. The episode with the smashed granny Christmas tree ornament and the ‘woman with powers’. The bit about him and a group of other lads pelting someone with fireworks and then him volunteering on his stag to do be pelted with fireworks dressed as a giant chicken!!!! Admitting he pissed himself during a yacht race because he had performance anxiety about pissing off the side of the boat. The hilarious theme about Suits and people either being mega fans (LOL) or not knowing anything about it. I could go on, I really did laugh my head off at parts of the book.

Diana was warned by family members she wasn't a right fit for the RF and vice versa. But, like many teenagers, her head seemed to be full of the fantasy of marring the Prince.

If that isn't loving posh, I don't know what is!