Spare’ by Prince Harry (2023) Book Review

The Royal Family has always had a complicated relationship with the media. Almost all of the Royals have faced the wrath of lies and toxicity from newspapers and magazines alike, but perhaps none more so than Princess Diana and Prince Harry. While the former's fate was sealed on a tragic Parisian evening, Prince Harry has had to endure constant abuse throughout his years of life.

From being called stupid to a party-going lunatic, all the way across to being labeled a drug addict, Harry's relationship with the media stagnated the day his mother died and has only grown more sour and toxic as the months and years have passed.

In his new book, "Spare," Prince Harry offers a personal and revealing look into his life and the impact that the media has had on it. Ghostwritten by J.R. Moehringer and written in first-person perspective, the book delves into Harry's upbringing as the "spare" to Prince William, his time in the military, and the impact of his mother's death on his relationship with the press. The book also covers the recent events surrounding Harry and his wife Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey and the fallout with the Royal Family.

The book starts with a brief prologue starting at Prince Philip's death and then cuts back to just before Princess Diana's death. It then leads through Harry's years growing up as the "Spare" to Prince William and his time in the military. The book also covers the Queen's death and the recent events surrounding Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah Winfrey and the subsequent fallout with the Royal Family.

Throughout the book, Prince Harry paints a vivid picture of the suffocating media presence on his family after winning medals. He speaks about how they were forced to hide inside while paparazzi camped on his front lawn and shouted through the letterbox to him. He also mentions how the News of the World has been under fire in the past for illegal wiretapping and how they already have blood on their hands for more than one famous face either committing suicide or being driven into a Paris tunnel, never to be seen again.

One of the most striking things about the book is how honest and candid Prince Harry is about his feelings. He doesn't hold back in expressing how hurt and frustrated he feels about the way he has been treated by the media. He talks about how he has been labeled as a "party-going lunatic" and a "drug addict" and how these labels have affected his mental health and his relationship with his family.

He also talks about how the media's constant intrusion into his life has made it difficult for him to form meaningful relationships. He talks about how he has had to be careful about who he trusts and how he has had to be constantly on guard to protect himself and his family from the media's prying eyes.

The book also offers a unique perspective on the recent events surrounding Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah Winfrey. Prince Harry talks about how he and Meghan decided to leave the Royal Family and how they have been treated by the media since then. He talks about how the media has twisted their words and how they have been subjected to a constant barrage of lies and toxicity.

He also talks about how he and Meghan have tried to lift the curtain and explain exactly what's happened and what's led them to where they are today. He talks about how they have been trying to use their platform to raise awareness about mental health and the impact that the media can have on it.

In conclusion, Prince Harry's book "Spare" offers a unique and personal perspective on the life of the prince and the impact that the media has had on it. The book