I borrowed this audiobook from the library.
Publisher: Random House Audio
Published: January 10, 2023
Summary:
It was 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. 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, twelve-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. A landmark publication, Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.
My thoughts:
It’s no secret that I am a fan of the royals, so of course this book went on my to-read list when it came out, but I will say, I’m glad I waited to read it. Having now watched the Netflix Documentary and read this, I realize just how often things get taken out of context or events/stories are altered to present a certain side of the story because that’s how the either certain members of the Royal family wanted it to be presented or that’s how that British press wanted it to be presented. I shouldn’t be surprised but yet I am.
This book really was quite eye-opening in how much the British press has impacted Harry’s life and how much the Royal family lives for how the British press portrays them. I was also quite shocked at how much trauma Harry suffered because of Diana’s death. I knew it affected him, but I didn’t realize just how much. Luckily he found himself in the military and I think that really was the best thing for him.
I love reading memoirs because I think they can give us such insight into other people and their lives, and while I don’t read a lot of celebrity memoirs, I do make occasional exceptions and this was one I couldn’t pass up.
Audio thoughts:
I loved the fact that Prince Harry narrated this one himself and I think this is the way to go with this book. It was well-done and I loved listening to his voice as he told his story.
