Royal expert Jonathan Sacerdoti talks about Prince Harry’s memoir and the new dynamic within the royal family.
Prince Harry’s all-encompassing memoir, Spare, has been flying off shelves since its much-anticipated release.
According to publisher Penguin Random House, 1.4 million copies of the controversial book were sold on the first day.
Harry’s book was written to give readers a glimpse into Harry’s personal life as he reflects on the grief of his mother’s death in 1997 and his long-simmering resentment at playing the royal ‘spare’ in the shadow of the ‘heir’. – of the older brother Prince – Wilhelm opened.
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He recounted altercations and a physical altercation with William, revealed how he lost his virginity and confessed to using illegal drugs.
Prince Harry’s all-encompassing memoir, Spare, has been flying off shelves since its much-anticipated release. (Getty/Penguin Random House/Getty Images)
Sales for “Spare” include hardcover, audiobook, and e-book editions sold worldwide, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
“The first full day of sales of ‘Spare’ represents the largest first-day sales for a nonfiction book ever published by Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher,” the publisher said in a statement to People.
The Duke of Sussex’s memoir is “the story of someone we thought we already knew, but now we can really understand Prince Harry through his own words,” said Gina Centrello, President and Editor of Random House Group, in a statement according to The Associated Press.
The book’s worldwide release date was January 10, and it’s priced at $36 in the United States.
Sales for “Spare” include hardcover, audiobook and e-book editions sold worldwide. (AP Photo / AP Images)
Since Harry and his wife Meghan Markle announced they would be “taking a step back” as senior members of the royal family, the pair have released several public projects while speaking out against the monarchy.
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In 2021, they spoke about their decision to date Oprah Winfrey in an interview viewed by nearly 50 million people worldwide.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spoke to Oprah Winfrey in an interview seen by nearly 50 million people worldwide. (Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions via AP/AP Images)
Harry and Markle released a full-length documentary on Netflix on December 8, 2022.
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The release of “Spare” has piled up like a dark cloud over the forthcoming coronation of the king in May. Harry’s father became king after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8th. Britain’s longest reigning monarch was 96 years old.
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Royal commentator Jonathan Sacerdoti told Fox News Digital that the royal family is said to be “quite angry” at Harry’s recent actions. He noted that King Charles’ reaction was clear when he recently changed the procedure at his coronation.
“Even if Harry and Meghan are invited, you would expect that after all the trouble they’ve caused, they would find a polite way not to attend,” he said. “But you can never fully predict their behavior. … [The royals] have to proceed carefully. … By not reacting publicly, they at least leave open the possibility that the situation can calm down. This allows for the possibility of future talks that could facilitate some form of reconciliation.”
Fox News Digital’s Stephanie Nolasco and The Associated Press contributed to this report.