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?

I also wonder how he expects the security thing to work. He wants his Metropolitan Police security to be reinstated (as per his current court case). Does he really expect a teams of UK Police bodyguards to rotate back and forwards to Montecito to look after a playboy Prince and his family whilst they potter around feeding chickens, giving interviews, writing books and making podcasts??

How would they be armed in the US? His moaning around this doesn't seem to be limited to protection whilst in the UK. He genuinely seemed shocked when the UK teams were pulled from Canada (and didn't follow to the US). He also talks about bodyguards rotating in and out of Australia when he was on his 'gap year'. Following him on various jaunts around Africa etc. He says the only time he didn't have them was his first stint in Afghanistan but he had his own body guards on his second tour.

Borrow it unless you want to add to the sales and line his pocket 😬

I’m halfway through it. I’m at the part where every single member of the royal household is working on a blueprint to create roles for the Sussexes that play to their strengths and interests and carves out time for their family life. It’s eye opening.

Henry viii was the ‘spare’. His elder brother ,Arthur, was the much lived heir, who was being trained to be King. Henry had a rather muted upbringing, he was destined for the Church and not given much military or political training. I presume that since his father had taken the Crown from a man who had (probably) murdered his nephews to succeed, and whose brother King Edward IV had had to put down rebellions inspired by their brother Clarence, Henry VII was rather cautious about sibling rivalry.

Then Arthur died in his teens, and suddenly Harry was the heir apparent. As soon as his father was dead, he married his sister in law, Arthur’s widow.

I guess they did Tudor history at Eton?

Wait until you get to the chapter on the way they bullied the staff. Talk about hypocrisy.

This is exactly why i didn't pick it up in Tesc the other day.

I don't know anyone reading it 🙄

I've never watched an episode of Suits. Back before anyone in the UK had ever heard of Meghan Markle, it was one of those shows I used to catch little glimpses of when flicking the channels. I genuinely, genuinely, thought the lead actor in it was the same actor who plays Simon in The Inbetweeners. I thought he'd gone to Hollywood, had a bit of a makeover, and landed himself the lead role in an American drama series. It was only when I saw the actual actor at Harry and Meghan's wedding (Patrick someone?) that I realised my mistake.

Petronella Wyatt was on Times Radio the other day saying the bully was not Meghan but Harry.

What with leopards, flapping capes, spanking and horsey smelling cottages ... i'm qiute taken with the imagery to be sure 😂

I’m afraid I got it on kindle and then returned it. I couldn’t bear for Harry to profit.

My cousin is in Australia and is number 221 on the library waiting list. She applied to be on the list before the book was released.

I told her to just wait 3 weeks and then it will be in the Op shops (charity shops).

I suspect that Harry is one of those people who thinks that reading books, listening to classical music and watching anything that isn't a cartoon makes you posh.

My parents were Scottish and there was no hugging or kissing of anyone in the family beyond early childhood

North East of England and I only kissed and hugged my mother, and then only as a small child. Father and brothers never. Not once in 60+ years. We were all close enough and fond of each other, but kissing and hugging didn't come naturally. I hug my own children now of course, and they're in their 30s. That does come naturally.

Nice one 😁

Like this?

Valentine Low, being interviewed about Courtiers:
“Bullying, it's a very loaded word and one person's bullying is another person's firm management style.
“I can't pass judgement on it, but I know that several people were quite broken, working there.
“When you hear about people saying at the time that when they're about to have a meeting with Meghan, they're very worried about how it's going and when they say things like, ‘I’m shaking, I feel sick,’ it's not a good workplace.”

1. the disgusting comments about the matron Pat at his school ‘Pat was not hot’ and making horrible comments on her disability. Feminist my ass!

2. having to drop in about W&K ‘elaborate’ renovations at KP.

He has his therapist on speed dial, he tells us…. but not a doctor? Given he plays polo a lot and has suffered a fair few polo injuries over the years (they all have) I find this hard to believe.

I think the supermarkets like Tesco and Asda bought huge volumes, which show up in the sales figures.

But whether customers are buying the books or not is another matter. My local big Asda seems to have display stands full of the damn things, not shifting.

Also made me laugh how he said he feel asleep waiting for the results of M’s pregnancy test. They only take 3 minutes.

When you look at that photo that Blossom toes just posted - and we know now what poisonous thoughts were running through Harry's head the whole time ....

AutumnCrow · ''... supermarkets like Tesco and Asda bought huge volumes, which show up in the sales figures.''

Ahhh. Of course, yes they will. Never thought of that.

Looks like millions have ''sold'' but sold to Tesco and Asda and Sains ect.

I hadn’t thought of it either. I wonder how much they’ll be reduced by the end of the month?

The trouble is that it's utterly pointless blackmail. William and Charles must be well aware that even if they totally abased themselves on national TV, weeping about how evil they have been to Harry and Meghan, apologising profusely, begging them to come back into the fold with a double allowance and a couple of palaces at their disposal, he would still go whinging to the press next time he feels in the slightest bit offended about something tiny.