'SPARE me the drama': Harry TROLLED for title of his 416-page memoir promoted as 'unflinchingly honest'
MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA: Prince Harry was mocked over the title of his controversial new memoir 'Spare' as it was announced it would go on sale on January 10 and tell his story "with raw, unflinching honesty." The eyebrow-raising title is reportedly a nod to his nickname as the "spare" prince, as opposed to his brother Prince William, who is the "heir" to the throne.
What's more? The Spanish language version has an even more pointed subtitle that reads "En La Sombra," that translates to "in the shade." It is believed the Duke of Sussex was paid $20 million in advance for the autobiography as part of a three-title deal worth $36.8 million.
ALSO READ
According to publisher Penguin Random House, Harry donated $1.5m to children's charity Sentebale and nearly $350,000 to WellChild, a charity for disabled children. Nonetheless, the prince was trolled on social media for the title he chose for the book.
"What a horrible self-pitying title Prince Harry chose for his book: Spare," columnist Miranda Devine tweeted. "It’s based on the phrase ‘heir and a spare’ and is Harry’s way of whining that he won’t ever be King," journalist Piers Morgan added.
"Title (he hasn't been the spare since George was born) reeks of victimhood and resentment. Is that the tone of the book? He has a lot to be grateful for," wrote one Twitter user following the teaser about the much-anticipated memoir. "Spare me the drama," another quipped. "Oh, I wish he would spare us from the constant winning [whining] about growing up in a privileged life while the rest of us had to actually work for a living," someone else offered.
What a horrible self-pitying title Prince Harry chose for his book: Spare https://t.co/HQngOJwzrm
— Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) October 27, 2022
💯- it’s based on the phrase ‘heir and a spare’ and is Harry’s way of whining that he won’t ever be King. https://t.co/vMmAGOv0E7
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 27, 2022
Title (he hasn't been the spare since George was born) reeks of victimhood and resentment. Is that the tone of the book? He has a lot to be grateful for.
— Adrian (@AdrianD444) October 27, 2022
Oh I wish he would spare us the from the contant winning about growing up in a privileged life while the rest of us had to actually work for a living
— Mitchell and Son Additive Manufacturing LTD (@MitchellandSon1) October 27, 2022
According to the Daily Mail, the duke will read the unabridged audiobook version himself. The 416-page memoir was initially scheduled for an autumn release, but its publication was delayed following the Queen's demise. Furthermore, Harry reportedly requested a number of changes to make the book less critical of his relatives across the pond. The tone of the memoir, however, appears to have darkened since it was first billed in July 2021 as an "inspiring, courageous, and uplifting human story." Instead, it is now being promoted as his "personal journey from trauma to healing," which has reportedly prompted concerns it may take aim at members of his own family.
Out January 10, SPARE is Prince Harry’s raw, unflinching [story]. . . Full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.”@penguinrandom have announced details of the Duke of Sussex’s memoir, available in 16 languages. pic.twitter.com/8YCYwqjShS
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) October 27, 2022
Royal author Richard Fitzwilliams suggested The Firm would be "very concerned" over the development. "It is a sensational title and implies that the writer was not valued or certainly that he did not feel at the center of events," he told the Daily Mail. "When the blurb speaks of 'raw, unflinching honesty,' the Palace will be very concerned, especially since these are the early months of King Charles's reign. There will undoubtedly be interviews, serialization, and endless speculation about this memoir, which in my view should have waited many years. Even Edward VIII, by then the Duke of Windsor, waited until 1951 before A King's Story was published. The consequences of this will be far-reaching and may be highly destructive," Fitzwilliams added.
TOP STORIES
The book's publication referred to Harry as a "husband, father, humanitarian, military veteran, mental wellness advocate, and environmentalist." It is said to begin in the immediate aftermath of his mother Princess Diana's death.
"Spare takes readers immediately back to 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," the release states, adding, "As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on. For Harry, this is his story at last. With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief."
