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Harry’s New Memoir Sparks Controversy: US Critics Slam Use of Royal Titles
Prince Harry has faced criticism from royal commentators in the US for using his Prince and Duke of Sussex titles to promote his upcoming memoir.
The announcement of his book deal with Penguin Publishing House was signed off with his full title, contradicting his earlier claim that the memoirs were not written as a Prince.
This move has not gone unnoticed, with royal expert Molly Malshine expressing her disdain on the US Royally podcast.
In an attempt to clarify his intentions, Prince Harry stated that the book would be written “not as the Prince I was born but as the man I have become.”
However, the fact that he signed the statement as “Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex” has left many questioning his motives.
Malshine criticized this contradictory approach, stating, “It is like you are in America now.
We don't use the titles.”
The use of clichés in the announcement also drew criticism.
Malshine described it as “word salad” and questioned whether Prince Harry's ghostwriter would address this issue.
She sarcastically remarked, “He's going to have a whole chapter on literal hats he has worn?
It is a lot of clichés, it is a lot of word salad.”
Co-host Joe Drake added that the statement should not need to emphasize its accuracy or truthfulness, as a memoir should inherently be truthful.
Comparisons have been drawn between Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, otherwise known as King Edward VIII and Wallace Simpson.
Both couples left the royal family for love and became estranged from their royal relatives.
In a bid to justify the memoir, entertainment reporter Peter Ford pointed out that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor also wrote their autobiographies.
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor's memoirs were published in 1951 and 1956, following King Edward VIII's abdication to marry Simpson, causing a constitutional crisis.
While it is not uncommon for estranged members of the royal family to write books, Prince Harry's use of his royal titles in promoting his memoir has sparked controversy.
Critics argue that if he truly wants to distance himself from his royal past, he should refrain from using these titles.
As the release date of the memoir approaches, it remains to be seen how the public will receive Prince Harry's candid account of his life within the royal family and post-Megxit.
