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The Review of the Book Spare by Prince Harry
In the book Spare, Prince Harry shares his honest reflections on a range of topics, including his profound sadness after his mother’s passing, the complex relationship he had with his brother and the monarch, his years of service in the military, and his struggles with the media. He looks back on his marriage to Meghan Markle and the immense joy of being a parent to Archie and Lillibet. Harry also shares insights on his many conversations with King Charles.
Despite being accused by the British media of exposing his family’s struggles to the world, SPARE remarkably demonstrates the humanity beneath the royal facade.
On September 5th, 1997, Prince William, Prince Harry, and their father, Prince Charles, travelled to Windsor Castle to bury their mother. World leaders from around the globe paid tribute to Diana as her coffin made its way through London on its way to Buckingham Palace. The three men walked dutifully behind their mother’s casket as millions of adoring fans reached out in an attempt to touch them. cameras rolled non-stop as millions of eyes watched the procession with tear filled eyes and terror in their hearts.Despite being accused by the British media of exposing his family’s struggles to the world, SPARE does a remarkable job of demonstrating the humanity beneath the royal facade.
The world was transfixed with grief and terror as two young boys, two princes followed their mother’s coffin to its final resting place. The sight of the princes in procession stirred up questions around the globe. What was going through their minds? How would they carry on after this tragedy? As the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, concluded, people everywhere were left wondering.
SPARE portrays a family stuck in a metaphorical golden prison, made to do tricks for the approval of others. They must constantly adapt and change to cater to an audience that follows every move and evaluates their performances. The press is their proxy, deciding whether or not their act is successful in the eyes of the public.
Through the stories in this memoir, it was impossible not to sympathize with the people of that family, especially Charles. SPARE was primarily about Harry and his life, but through his eyes, you got to see the complex (and in many cases mundane) interactions and experiences of the whole family, in spite of its ironic and conflicting existence.
SPARE offers a unique perspective on the monarchy and its modern relevance, by presenting a lens through which we can view both the family, and our society. It is more than just a recounting of events for fans of either Harry or William; it encourages those who read it to examine the issues that are at play in the world today, and how we can make a change for the better.
Memories are often shared and recorded as a series of details that convey the mood and essence of a moment. However, not every story told, especially in memoirs, requires the same level of detail to communicate the scope of the moment, or to give the reader an experience worth having. Here, the author is perhaps attempting to avoid succumbing to the trap of relying on detail for an interesting narrative, which can become tedious for both the author and the reader. In this case, however, by just expanding on what makes a great story worth reading can capture much more.
Despite this minor criticism, SPARE proves to be an enlightening read. Once it has become better known, it is certain that most people will agree that it was an important addition to the royal family’s story.
This book is full of unexpected and delightful surprises, great stories as told by Harry himself—no room for subjective opinions here. The writing is so raw and honest that it hits a nerve with anyone who reads it. The book isn’t just about scandals; it’s about a man’s journey to find himself, and his reflections on life experiences—death, anxiety, love, loss, insecurity and family dynamics—connect with anyone looking for this kind of message. It’s filled with gossipy details as well, but if you read between the lines you’ll witness a remarkable transformation as Harry learns to make bad into good and spreads it far and wide. Kudos to him for his courage and best wishes for a long life!
