It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on.
For Harry, this is that story at last.
Before losing his mother, twelve-year-old Prince Harry was known as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything. He struggled at school, struggled with anger, with loneliness—and, because he blamed the press for his mother’s death, he struggled to accept life in the spotlight.
At twenty-one, he joined the British Army. The discipline gave him structure, and two combat tours made him a hero at home. But he soon felt more lost than ever, suffering from post-traumatic stress and prone to crippling panic attacks. Above all, he couldn’t find true love.
Then he met Meghan. The world was swept away by the couple’s cinematic romance and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. Over the centuries, leaving the Royal Family was an act few had dared. The last to try, in fact, had been his mother. . . .
Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.
Review -
I want to be clear from the start, I am not a Royal watcher or particularly interested in famous people in general. What I love is hearing real people share about their lives, especially people who have, or are living, lives wildly different from mine. These stories bring understanding of how diverse our journeys are and bring a greater compassion for the unique challenges faced by others.
The media surrounding Harry after he began seeing Meghan bothered me. I have read from many in the public eye how brutal the media can be, and how the media works to shape a narrative to keep the money rolling in - even resorting to lying and invention. I could feel that happening behind the scenes here and was disguested. The lack of privacy, the lack of safety and the constant swaying of the public with no way to defend themselves was at play. Don't believe me? Check out some the truly racist lies printed.
I have no comment on the Royal Family as an institution, but I do feel each individual on this planet has the right to share their own story honestly so we can see the journey through their eyes. I am sure each person mentioned in this book would have a different view of events. Kudos to Harry for owning his own story fully and without apology. If you as a reader are interested in understanding how the media shapes our opinions on a regular basis to it's own advantage, then I recommend Spare.. The power and lack of principles will shock you.
The media have had their turn shaping this narrative. Now it's time we hear the story from those they are attacking. The fact the book is a best seller while the media continues to try to put out stories that are negative says it all. And shame on the both the paparazzi who hound people relentlessly and those who support that industry through buying these rags magazines.
Buy the Book: Amazon.ca ~ Amazon.com
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