Prince Andrew “is in talks with US writers to write a comprehensive autobiography” after Prince Harry publishes Spare
- Prince Andrew wants to set the record right after the Jeffrey Epstein scandal
- Andrew is believed to be in talks with US author Daphne Barak
- His new memoir has been described by sources as Spare 2.0 based on Harry’s book
Prince Andrew is believed to be in talks with American authors to pen an explosive autobiography.
The memoir is described by sources close to the Duke of York as Spare 2.0, based on Prince Harry’s controversial book Spare.
The disgraced Duke is said to believe an autobiography could allow him to set the record straight after the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
His latest major attempt to do so – the infamous BBC Newsnight interview in 2019 – backfired spectacularly, but the Duke would have more control with a book.
A source said: “Andrew was the original spare and there is a lot of material. Compared to Harry, he has a far greater history to draw from.
Prince Andrew is believed to be in talks with American authors to pen an explosive autobiography
It has been suggested that Andrew was arguing with US author and interviewer Daphne Barak (left), who has written biographies of Amy Winehouse and former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
“Writing a book would give him an opportunity to fully explain his connection to Jeffrey Epstein and the conflicts that ensued.
“But it would also be a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of royals and their relationships.”
It has been suggested that Andrew was arguing with American author and interviewer Daphne Barak, who has written biographies of Amy Winehouse and former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. However, it is understood she is currently involved in a separate book project unrelated to the royals.
Two leading publishers are said to be interested in an autobiography of the Duke, who last year settled out of court with his accuser Virginia Giuffre.
A lucrative book deal would come in handy for Andrew, who has told friends he received no inheritance from the Queen when she died. Financial pressures on him could be heightened by King Charles’ plans to cut royal funds, which could see him “evicted” from his royal lodge in Windsor unless he can pay the expensive maintenance costs.
A source said: “Andrew needs to find ways to make money and support himself.
The disgraced Duke is said to believe an autobiography could allow him to set the record straight after the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Pictured: Andrew with Virginia Giuffre
Prince Andrew’s memoir is described by sources close to the Duke of York as Spare 2.0, based on Prince Harry’s controversial book Spare
“It would be a major feat to leave Royal Lodge. But above all he wants to set the record straight. If he doesn’t change the narrative, no one else will.
But Jeremy Murphy, founder of New York-based PR firm 360bespoke, who has represented A-list names and writers and worked on prime-time TV shows, warned that Andrew could struggle to land a big-money deal.
He said: “I have no doubt someone would make an offer to Andrew. However, it is unlikely to be one of the big publishers. He still has the slime factor. Many publishers are owned by large corporations, and the backlash of giving this man a platform would not sit well with a large public company.
“So I think a deal would be done with a smaller publisher, maybe one that wants to make a name for itself.
“And I don’t think he would get a big advance. It would likely be a deal that rewards him with royalties at the end. I’d be surprised if an advance was even a million dollars.”
Tony Lyons, president of New York-based Skyhorse, which has published books shunned by rivals, said: “Andrew’s book is of great public interest, the world needs to hear his side of the story.”
Ms Barak declined to comment.
The Duke of York’s office did not respond to a request for comment.