Prince Harry’s memoir Spare has taken a serious hit, with over 500 readers choosing to part ways with their copies. For the second consecutive year, this controversial autobiography has been named the most traded-in biography, which is certainly a hard pill to swallow for the Duke of Sussex.
When Spare first hit shelves in early 2023, it took the world by storm. The Duke of Sussex shattered records as the fastest-selling book ever at the time. Its explosive revelations about the Royal Family sent shockwaves through the media, sparking endless debates and fueling controversies that still simmer to this day. From allegations of Prince William calling Meghan Markle “difficult,” “rude,” and “abrasive” to claims of King Charles’ envy toward the younger royals, Spare made headlines for all the wrong reasons. There was even the jaw-dropping moment when Harry revealed that Charles had prevented Meghan from joining him in Scotland during Queen Elizabeth’s final days.
Despite all the drama surrounding its release, Spare initially seemed to be a success. But fast forward to 2024, and the tides have turned. According to We Buy Any Book, a website that specializes in trading second-hand books, Spare has surpassed all other autobiographies in trade-ins. “For the second year running, Prince Harry’s Spare is the most traded-in biography of 2024,” a spokesperson from the site told OK! magazine. This year alone, they’ve received a staggering 567 copies of the memoir. That’s a lot of disappointed readers looking to unload the book, and it's a clear indication that public interest is waning.
Currently, the website offers a modest £3.77 to those willing to sell back their copy of Spare. By contrast, major high street book retailer Waterstones is selling it for £8.99, though they’ve dropped the price temporarily from its original £10.99. Meanwhile, Amazon and AwesomeBooks have followed suit with their own price drops, offering discounted prices on the book. It’s clear that the market for Spare has shifted, and not in Harry’s favor.
In October, the Duke of Sussex released a new paperback edition of his memoir. However, as expected, the re-release didn’t contain any new, bombshell revelations or updated information. This lack of fresh content left fans feeling underwhelmed, especially after all the hype surrounding its initial release. It seems that Prince Harry’s once high-flying career as a bestselling author is struggling to keep up the momentum.
One of the biggest issues that has surfaced since the release of Spare is Harry’s increasingly strained relationship with his family. As the prince continues to live in California, the distance between him, his father King Charles, and his brother Prince William has grown even more pronounced. The memoir only added fuel to the fire, with Harry openly sharing personal details about his relationships with the royal family. As of now, it’s believed that Harry is not on speaking terms with either of the two men.
In addition to the family drama, Spare also delves into Harry’s past drug use. The memoir includes graphic accounts of his experiences with marijuana, cocaine, and psychedelic mushrooms. While many might view this as a brave admission of his struggles, it has raised concerns in the United States, especially when it comes to visa applications. Since Harry’s immigration status in the US is under scrutiny, his past drug use has become a point of contention. US Visa forms ask applicants about their history with drugs, and it’s a matter that could potentially derail Harry’s application to stay in the country.
The controversy around Harry’s drug revelations has led to legal challenges as well. The conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation, filed a lawsuit to force the US government to release Prince Harry’s immigration records. Their goal? To determine whether Harry disclosed his drug use when applying for his visa. In September, US District Judge Carl Nichols ruled that the public doesn’t have a “strong interest” in the disclosure of the duke’s immigration records. This ruling, however, hasn’t put an end to the questions surrounding Harry’s US visa and whether he fully disclosed his past behavior.
Despite all these challenges, Prince Harry’s saga is far from over. The release of Spare might not have gone as smoothly as the prince had hoped, but it’s undeniable that it has sparked ongoing discussions about the royal family, their secrets, and the personal lives of its members. The memoir served as a window into the world of the British monarchy, exposing the complex relationships that many had never known existed. However, the book’s success has proven to be fleeting, with readers seemingly losing interest and parting ways with their copies at an unprecedented rate.
The royal family, meanwhile, continues to move on, despite the personal toll it’s taken on some of its members. The ongoing tension between Harry and his family members seems unlikely to resolve anytime soon, as each new revelation only seems to deepen the divide.
In the grand scheme of things, Spare is more than just a memoir; it’s a reflection of Prince Harry’s personal journey and his complex relationship with his past, his family, and his place in the royal fold. While the book’s trade-ins might indicate a shift in public sentiment, it’s clear that its impact on the royal family—and on Harry’s life—will continue to reverberate for years to come. Whether the prince will release another book, continue speaking out, or shift his focus to other ventures remains to be seen, but for now, the story of Spare is far from finished.
As Spare fades from the bestseller lists and continues to collect dust on readers’ shelves, one thing is certain: Prince Harry’s journey has only just begun, and it’s bound to keep us all on the edge of our seats.
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