Prince Harry’s all-encompassing memoir, Spare, has broken the record for fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time.
The Duke of Sussex’s insightful account of the royal family and his private life sold a whopping 1.43 million copies on its first day of sale in the UK, US and Canada, according to Guinness World Records.
Harry’s book sales have stunned former record-holder “A Promised Land,” penned by former President Barack Obama, which sold 887,000 copies on the day it was published.
“Spare” details Prince Harry’s contentious relationships with his father, King Charles, and his brother, Prince William, as well as the troubles caused by his marriage to Meghan Markle, which led him to join the royal family in 2020 leaving.
The Prince also opens up about the loss of his mother, Princess Diana, at the age of 12, his alcohol and drug use, losing his virginity and his time with the British Army in Afghanistan.
“Spare” has a cover price of $36 but is often sold at a discount by retailers. On Amazon, the memoir sold for $22.42 on Saturday.
“As far as we know, the only books that have outsold the first day have starred the other Harry (Potter),” Larry Finlay, managing director of Transworld Penguin Random House, said in a statement.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – the final novel in the series by JK Rowling – currently holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest selling book of all time, having sold 8.3 million copies – or 345,833 books – when it was released in July per hour – sold in 2007.
Spare, published January 10, surpassed Barack Obama’s A Promised Land as the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time. Getty Images for the Invictus Ga
On Wednesday, Penguin Random House announced that “Spare” has set the record for the fastest-selling non-fiction book in UK history.
The Duke of Sussex has accused the royal family of trying to undermine his bombshell memoir.
Appearing with Stephen Colbert this week, Colbert asked Harry if there was an “active campaign” by the rest of his family “to undermine this book and you?”.
“Of course,” Harry replied, adding that it was “mainly the British press.”
When the late-night host asked if the pushback was also “backed and supported by the palace,” Harry replied, “Again, of course.”
So far, Buckingham Palace has not officially commented on “Spare”.
Before Obama equaled the record for best-selling nonfiction book, his wife Michelle had held the record after her book, Becoming, sold 725,000 copies on day one, according to Guinness.
Prior to Becoming, Bill Clinton’s My Life held the title, having sold 400,000 copies when it was released in 2004, beating the record set a year earlier by his wife Hillary Clinton. Her memoir Living History sold 200,000 copies.