Prince Harry may be contemplating a sequel to his controversial memoir "Spare," according to royal author Robert Hardman. The initial book, which sent shockwaves through the royal family and public alike, revealed intimate details about his life and relationships, particularly with his father King Charles and brother Prince William. Despite its commercial success, "Spare" has further strained Harry's already tenuous relations with his royal relatives.
Speaking at the Hay Literary Festival, Hardman, an esteemed biographer of King Charles and the late Queen Elizabeth, suggested that the brevity of the sections concerning Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle indicates more untold stories. "If you do read that book, and as I said it’s amazing, but if you get to the bit about his wedding to Meghan, it boils down really to about four or five pages. Now, as an author, that says to me one thing and one thing only: part two might be on its way," Hardman was quoted as saying by the Independent.
The fallout from "Spare" has been profound. Relationships within the royal family, especially with Prince William, have deteriorated significantly. Hardman noted, "The problem that exists is, at the moment, there is still a trust issue. People are still very wounded, particularly Prince William, that these intimate private childhood family moments all spilled out in Harry’s book." The timing of the book's release, coinciding with the Queen's death, exacerbated the tensions.
Harry himself has acknowledged the existence of additional, unreleased material. He revealed that the original manuscript for "Spare" was twice its published length and that many personal anecdotes about interactions with Charles and William were omitted. "There are some things that have happened, especially between me and my brother, and to some extent between me and my father, that I just don't want the world to know. Because I don't think they would ever forgive me," Harry told The Telegraph.
Despite the success of "Spare," royal commentator Kinsey Schofield warned that a second memoir could jeopardize any chance of reconciliation with the royal family. Speaking on her YouTube podcast, Schofield said, "I hope he wouldn't pursue this if he has any desire whatsoever of a real reconciliation. I think it would just jeopardize any hope of that in the future." She mentioned that Harry’s publishing contract includes multiple books, fueling speculation about a sequel.
Schofield also highlighted the current personal challenges faced by the royal family, suggesting that Harry might avoid further controversy out of respect. "I don't feel like he would put his family in such a weird position while they're battling multiple cancer issues," she said, referencing reports of health concerns for King Charles and Princess Kate.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl echoed these sentiments, questioning the timing of another potentially explosive memoir. "Is this the time to be settling old scores? Is this the time to be going back over a painful past? I think, absolutely not," she said. According to Nicholl, Harry reportedly desires a better relationship with his father, which could be further complicated by another revealing book.
The speculation around a second memoir continues to swirl as Harry and Meghan navigate their post-royal lives. The couple's previous ventures, including the Netflix docu-series and the initial memoir, have been their primary commercial successes since stepping back from royal duties.
As the public and the media await further developments, the potential for another memoir underscores the ongoing complexities and unresolved issues within the royal family. Whether Harry will choose to release more personal revelations remains uncertain, but the implications for his relationships with his family members are significant.
For now, Harry's decision to hold back some of the more sensitive details about his family might indicate a cautious approach. However, the lure of commercial success and the desire to tell his complete story could eventually lead to the release of "Spare 2.0," further impacting the dynamics within the British monarchy.