Spare by Prince Harry
What's It About?
With insight, revelation and self-examination, "Spare" is Prince Harry’s story, in his own words.Spare (Random House), a landmark memoir from Prince Harry, takes readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the 20th-century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow — and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling — and how their lives would play out from that point on.
For Harry, this is that story at last.
Before losing his mother, 12-year-old Prince Harry was known as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything. He struggled at school, struggled with anger, with loneliness — and, because he blamed the press for his mother’s death, he struggled to accept life in the spotlight.
At twenty-one, he joined the British Army. The discipline gave him structure, and two combat tours made him a hero at home. But he soon felt more lost than ever, suffering from post-traumatic stress and prone to crippling panic attacks. Above all, he couldn’t find true love.
Then he met Meghan. The world was swept away by the couple’s cinematic romance and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. Over the centuries, leaving the Royal Family was an act few had dared. The last to try, in fact, had been his mother …
For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty. Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.
“Penguin Random House is honored to be publishing Prince Harry’s candid and emotionally powerful story for readers everywhere. He shares a remarkably moving personal journey from trauma to healing, one that speaks to the power of love and will inspire and encourage millions of people around the world,” said Markus Dohle, former CEO.
Another honorable feat — Prince Harry wishes to support British charities with donations from his proceeds from Spare. The Duke of Sussex has donated to Sentebale, an organization he founded with Prince Seeiso in their mothers’ legacies, which supports vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV/AIDS. Prince Harry will also donate to the non-profit organization WellChild, which he has been Royal patron of for fifteen years. WellChild makes it possible for children and young people with complex health needs to be cared for at home instead of in a hospital, wherever possible.
About Prince Harry:
Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, is a husband, father, humanitarian, military veteran, mental wellness advocate and environmentalist. He resides in Santa Barbara, California, with his family and three dogs.
