…it’s not at all about wealth and balls and glamour
I was never very interested in England’s royal family until the British press started their hate campaign against Meghan Markle. But I remember Harry as a stunned 12-year-old, walking behind his mother’s casket, having to shake hands with strangers just hours after he found out his mother was dead. The press gave no quarter to the boys, following them, sneaking onto their school grounds, ever ravenous for a sign that the royals were suffering. It’s grotesque, and Britain’s failure to rein in these vampires is shameful.
Getting Harry’s account of what it’s like to be a prince, but the “spare” of “heir and a spare” was nothing short of fascinating. The crappy places he was assigned to in various castles, the complete lack of autonomy, the expectation that you would represent the queen as your fulltime job for the rest of your life…it’s not at all about wealth and balls and glamour.
Harry was never offered counseling as a boy…just sent back to boarding school. When he joined his brother at Eton, Harry had little support from his older brother. He takes full responsibility for his youthful idiocy, finds his place in the Army and becomes a good man. But when the press leaks his location (twice), he becomes a target, which puts his mates in danger.
The love story between Harry and Meghan is so authentic and lovely. I always laugh when haters say Meghan has somehow hypnotized Harry, and in his heart he wants to go back to England, etc. etc. He has found happiness and safety by going public with this memoir, exposing the complicity between the palace and the press. If they’re attacking Meghan, at least they’re not attacking Camilla/Kate/William/Charles/Andrew. The word “spare” takes on a whole new meaning in this context. Throw Harry to the wolves…he doesn’t really matter, now that little George and his siblings are here.
I know JR Moehringer ghost-wrote the book. I’d sure love to hear the interview tapes. Listening to SPARE, however, the authenticity of Harry’s experiences ring loud and clear.