NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 23: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit on September 23, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images)
In Prince Harry’s explosive memoir, Spare, the Duke of Sussex offers a rare, unfiltered look into life behind palace walls. From his complicated relationship with the royal family to the emotional scars left by his mother’s tragic death, Harry pulls back the curtain on the world’s most famous monarchy — and nothing is off-limits.
The Memoir’s Release and Public Reaction
Spare was officially released on January 10, 2023, and immediately became a global phenomenon. Within 24 hours, it sold over 1.4 million copies across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, making it one of the fastest-selling nonfiction books in history. Readers were captivated by Harry’s raw storytelling and the never-before-shared details of his royal upbringing.
The memoir sparked intense public debate. Some praised Harry’s vulnerability and willingness to challenge the monarchy’s rigid norms, while others criticized the memoir as overly revealing. Rebecca Mead of The New Yorker called Spare “worth reading not just for its headline-generating details but also for its narrative force, its voice, and its sometimes surprising wit.” Meanwhile, The New York Times‘ Alexandra Jacobs described it as emotionally scattered, reflecting the complexities of Harry’s journey.
Public sentiment mirrored this divide. According to a YouGov survey conducted in January 2023, Prince Harry’s approval ratings in the U.K. took a significant hit after the memoir’s release. Nearly two-thirds of respondents viewed him negatively, a steep decline from the previous year.
Why We’re Still Talking About It
Over two years after its release, Spare remains a cultural touchpoint. Part of its staying power comes from the ongoing media spotlight on Harry and Meghan’s post-royal lives. Meghan’s upcoming lifestyle brand, As Ever, and her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, continue to keep the couple in public discourse. These projects further the themes Harry explores in Spare — autonomy, identity, and redefining one’s narrative outside the constraints of royal life.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 05: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends the 2024 Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) Gala at L.A. Live Event Deck Top Floor Of The West Lot on October 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
Beyond that, the memoir ignited broader conversations about media ethics, mental health, and the toll of living in the public eye. Harry’s willingness to speak out has positioned him as both a critic of the institution that raised him and an advocate for privacy and emotional well-being.
What Are the Key Themes Discussed in Prince Harry’s Memoir, Spare?
The memoir, which shattered sales records upon release, is more than just royal gossip. It’s a deeply personal account of identity, trauma, and the price of freedom. Here are the major themes Harry explores in Spare:
1. The ‘Heir and Spare’ Complex
The title of the book isn’t just catchy — it’s personal. Harry dives headfirst into the age-old dynamic between the royal heir (Prince William) and the so-called “spare” (himself). Throughout the memoir, he reflects on how this label shaped his identity from childhood. Harry describes feeling like an afterthought, destined to play a supporting role while his older brother prepared for the throne. This tension, as he reveals, only intensified as they grew older.
2. Grieving Princess Diana
It’s impossible to tell Harry’s story without acknowledging the devastating loss of his mother, Princess Diana. In Spare, Harry gives readers a raw account of how her death affected him. He describes the surreal experience of walking behind her coffin as a child and the emotional turmoil that followed. For years, he struggled to process his grief, even turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms before eventually seeking therapy. His honesty about mental health and trauma is one of the memoir’s most powerful takeaways.
3. Family Drama in the Palace
If you thought the royal family was all tiaras and tea parties, think again. Harry doesn’t shy away from detailing his fraught relationships with his father, King Charles III, and brother, Prince William. He recounts private arguments, including an alleged physical altercation with William, and paints a picture of a family torn between duty and personal loyalty. The memoir suggests that long-standing resentment and jealousy simmered beneath the surface for years, ultimately pushing Harry to break free.
4. Life in the Military
Beyond the royal drama, Spare highlights a chapter of Harry’s life where he felt most like himself: his time in the military. Harry describes his two tours in Afghanistan as transformative, offering him a sense of purpose away from the constraints of royalty. He also reflects on how his military service shaped his views on leadership, responsibility, and life outside the palace bubble.
5. Meghan Markle and the Royal Exit
No surprise here — Harry dedicates significant pages to his relationship with Meghan Markle and their decision to step back from royal life. He recounts their whirlwind romance, the relentless media scrutiny, and the racism Meghan faced from the British press. The memoir dives into the couple’s struggle to balance their love with the pressures of royal duty, ultimately leading to their headline-making decision to leave the monarchy behind for a new life in California.
6. Battling the Media
If there’s a clear villain in Spare, it’s the British tabloid press. Harry details his decades-long battle with media intrusion, from invasive headlines to the paparazzi who hounded his mother. He blames the press for much of the pain in his life and argues that their relentless pursuit of a story endangered his mental health and family. Through his narrative, Harry calls for media reform and greater privacy protections.
Photo via Amazon
The Bottom Line
Spare isn’t your typical royal tell-all. It’s a deeply personal story about a man caught between tradition and freedom, wrestling with loss while trying to chart his own path. With raw honesty and unexpected vulnerability, Prince Harry reclaims his voice — and makes it clear he’s no longer willing to play the part of the “spare.”
For anyone curious about the man behind the headlines, Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, delivers the full picture — and then some.