Prince Harry's 'very unusual move to dredge up everything' in feud with Royal Family

Prince Harry/Royal Family

Harry's timing "couldn't be worse", one royal expert claimed

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James Saunders

By James Saunders


Published: 28/08/2024

- 17:20

The book will serve as a 'rather unpleasant reminder of what has gone on' in the long-running feud

The paperback release of Prince Harry's controversial memoir, Spare, risks "dredging everything up again" in the years-long feud between the prince and the Royal Family, royal experts have claimed.

The novel is set for a new run in bookshops across the world at the end of October - and with the clock ticking until Spare is back on shelves, commentators have slammed its "unfortunate" release date.


In the UK, the soft-cover Spare will be released on October 24 - right in the midst of his father's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.

Majesty Magazine's editor-in-chief, Ingrid Seward, said: "Harry probably had no idea that his father would be there.

Prince Harry and Prince William

Spare's re-release risks "dredging everything up again"

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"That wouldn't go into Harry's remit, I wouldn't think, so I think it's unfortunate timing... Of course, it will dredge everything up again," Seward told The Sun.

The leading royal biographer drew attention to the "very unusual" fact the paperback version of Spare is set to be released without any updates to its content - but noted its cheaper run in stores would mean "many more people" would buy the book.

She said: "He could have easily done that [adding new material], but he obviously didn't want to.

"Maybe there will be something - we just don't know."

MORE ON HARRY:

Copies of Spare memoir

The King would be too busy to take heed of any potential fresh Spare fallout, Seward said

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But she also claimed the King - in the midst of the landmark Commonwealth summit - would be too busy to take heed of any potential fresh Spare fallout.

Seward said: "I don't think it's going to affect him and what he's doing.

"I just think it's a rather unpleasant reminder of what has gone on with Harry - and indeed Meghan - over the past year."

But Phil Dampier, a royal expert who has reported on the family for almost 40 years, told The Sun the timing of the re-release "couldn't be worse".

Camilla and Charles

Charles and Camilla will visit Samoa later this year for CHOGM, alongside a royal tour to Australia

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He said: "Some people are saying: 'Is this an olive branch?' - I don't tend to go for that school of thought.

"It's actually coming out at a very, very difficult time. The timing couldn't be worse, really, and I'm sure it's going to dredge up the whole scandal again - the whole family problems.

"More people are going to be reading it, and as I say, the timing couldn't be worse... It's at a time when the King is struggling with cancer.

"Right slap-bang in the middle of a very important Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting... This is probably not something they need!" he added.

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