Prince Harry’s ‘Spare’: From Royal Tell-All to Literary Disappointment

Prince Harry's memoir, Spare, which created a sensation upon its release last year, has now achieved an unexpected milestone—it has been dubbed the most-traded biography of 2024.

This isn't just a one-time occurrence; it's now held this title for two consecutive years.

What was once celebrated as the fastest-selling book in history has now found itself in a rather unfortunate category: the most unwanted book of the year.

When Spare debuted in January 2023, it was met with immense anticipation.

Penguin Random House, its publisher, likely envisioned it becoming a modern literary classic, a gripping exposé from a royal family member with grievances to share.

They boasted about record-breaking sales on its first day, claiming an astonishing 1.4 million copies flew off the shelves in the UK, US, and Canada combined.

If you had read the headlines back then, you might have believed Spare was akin to a monumental achievement, like landing on the moon.

However, fast forward to now, and it seems the only thing being shattered is the book's credibility—and its market value.

While it may have sprinted out of the gate, it now appears to be moving in reverse.

The hardcover edition, originally priced at £28, is now languishing at a mere £3.38 on We Buy Books, a website that specializes in purchasing unwanted second-hand titles.

And for those still clinging to the hope of selling it, the site has stopped accepting copies altogether.

The paperback version, once retailing for £10.99, has been relegated to the bargain bin, selling for just 75p.

The sales figures tell a sobering story as well.

After the initial wave of excitement, the paperback barely made a mark, with only 1,809 copies sold during its first week in the UK.

To put that in context, that's less than what many self-published cookbooks by local chefs typically achieve.

Despite its rocky journey, Spare still manages to outpace other royal memoirs that lack the accompanying scandals and controversies.

Initially marketed as a non-fiction account detailing Harry's life and struggles within the royal family, it now faces scrutiny.

As time passes, it seems increasingly plausible that Spare could be categorized as fiction due to the numerous unverified and bizarre claims within its pages—like Harry supposedly inhaling laughing gas while Meghan was in labor.

Medical experts have already debunked such assertions, but who's keeping track?

Adding to this royal fiasco is the revelation that retailers were pressured to buy copies in bulk.

This strategy ensured that Spare flooded the market, only to find its way into return bins shortly after.

It's reminiscent of a Netflix show that gets canceled after just one season; there's a big splash at the start, but soon it's forgotten and tossed aside.

With evidence mounting that the book's rapid sales were more a result of marketing hype than genuine interest, one has to wonder why Penguin Random House continues to act as if Spare is still the must-have title.

Despite all the polished press statements, it seems clear that Spare has established itself as the most traded book of the year rather than a bestseller.

While Prince Harry once aspired to carve out his identity beyond the royal family, it's becoming painfully obvious that his literary pursuits are not faring much better than his time in the spotlight.