Prince Harry is finally ready to publish the paperback edition of his vitriolic memoir, Spare.
However, the Royal Family is likely to breathe a sigh of relief after its publisher announced that the book would not be updated from its hardback format, a somewhat unusual move for an international bestseller.
Sadly, its October launch will coincide with a high-profile appearance by King Charles at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, the first time he has attended since ascending to the throne and becoming head of the world organisation.
The reunion will take place from October 21 to 25, and Harry’s paperback edition will be published in the US on October 22 and in the UK two days later.
Prince Harry pictured at the Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8, 2024 in London
Prince Harry is finally ready to publish the paperback edition of his vitriolic memoir, Spare
Lady Louise Windsor at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor, Berkshire on May 5, 2024
Buckingham Palace announced in July that the monarch planned to attend despite his ongoing cancer treatment, as part of an autumn tour in October that will also take him to Australia.
Spare’s reissue will also reignite explosive claims made by the prince against his estranged family, including allegations that Prince William broke his collar and pushed him over a broken dog bowl during a particularly explosive row.
He also recalled numerous private family conversations between himself, his father and brother, and highlighted difficulties between his wife and the then Duchess of Cambridge, including Kate’s reaction when Meghan said she had “baby brain”.
Penguin Random House announced yesterday that Spare’s new imprint will be published in 16 languages worldwide.
It will have the same cover image as the hardcover edition, newly designed packaging but “the content of the book will not change.”
Questions have been raised as to whether Harry, like many authors, would update the paperback edition with a new chapter, especially given everything that has happened in the past year.
During that time, his relationships with his family continued to deteriorate, the King was diagnosed with cancer (forcing Harry to travel to London to see his father for a mere 30 minutes), and his children, Archie and Lilibet, became Prince and Princess.
Unfortunately, however, the launch of Spare October will coincide with King Charles’s high-profile appearance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, the first time he has attended since ascending to the throne and becoming head of the world organisation.
Spare’s reissue will also reignite explosive claims made by the prince against his estranged family, including allegations that Prince William broke his collar and pushed him over a dog bowl that broke during a particularly explosive row.
The fact that Harry has decided not to add anything to the revelations could be seen by some as an attempt to try to smooth over family conflicts.
Spare, which was first published on January 10 last year, instantly became a publishing sensation, selling more than six million copies in both print and audio formats worldwide.
He holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time, not least because Harry became the most high-profile member of the family to “kiss and confess” to the monarchy.
However, although the book, written by journalist JR Moehringer, was a financial success for the prince, it is widely believed that his reputation suffered as a result.
Many considered both the book and Harry’s equally vitriolic series of media appearances to publicise it to be too much of a betrayal and criticised his version of events.
Typically, a paperback edition takes between six months and a year to be published after the initial hardcover publication.
They can be produced and sold at a cheaper price and are designed to attract more readers.
Whether Spare will follow suit remains to be seen, given its huge success as a hardcover book.