Prince Harry’s Spare paperback release coincides with King Charles’ Samoa visit

Prince Harry is releasing the paperback edition of his controversial memoir, Spare. Unlike many bestsellers, this version will not include any updates from its hardback edition, a decision announced by his publisher.

The book’s release in October coincides with King Charles’ attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, his first since becoming head of the organisation. The meeting, scheduled from October 21-25, overlaps with Spare’s release dates—October 22 in the US and October 24 in the UK.

Buckingham Palace confirmed in July that the King would attend the meeting despite undergoing cancer treatment as part of an Autumn tour that also includes Australia.

The paperback release of Spare will revisit Prince Harry’s explosive allegations against his family. Notable claims include a physical altercation with Prince William and tense interactions between Meghan Markle and the Duchess of Cambridge.

Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare” has sold more than 3.2 million copies worldwide after just one week of publication. Penguin Random House said it sold 1.6 million copies in the U.S. alone. pic.twitter.com/uwhhcFVPqy

— The Associated Press (@AP) January 20, 2023

Penguin Random House has stated that the paperback will be available in 16 languages worldwide, retaining the same cover image and content as the hardback edition. This decision comes despite significant events in the past year, such as King Charles’ cancer diagnosis and Harry’s brief visit to London.

Harry’s choice not to update the paperback might be seen as an effort to ease family tensions. The original release of Spare on January 10 last year was a major success, selling over six million copies globally and setting a Guinness World Record for the fastest-selling nonfiction book.

Despite its financial success, Spare and Harry’s promotional media appearances have been widely criticised, with many viewing the revelations as a betrayal. The paperback edition aims to attract more readers with its lower price point, although its impact remains uncertain.

Among the personal anecdotes in Spare, Harry revealed an embarrassing incident before his first date with Meghan Markle, where he urinated in his pants during a sailing race. Other notable stories include Prince William’s plan to shave Harry’s beard at his stag party and Harry’s belief that a hummingbird visit was a sign from the late Queen.

Harry also shared memories of his children, Archie and Lilibet, with the Queen, and recounted a dinner with Princess Eugenie where Meghan fell ill. He mentioned King Charles’ habit of listening to audiobooks in the bath and the Queen using earplugs during a concert.

Harry discussed his recreational use of marijuana and tequila, along with a video call from Meghan during which he admired her freckles. Lastly, he revealed that King Charles’ favourite aftershave is Dior’s Eau Sauvage, a scent that reminds Harry of his mother.