Prince Harry’s memoir, titled Spare, became a bestseller last year, selling over 700,000 copies. However, the book did not win any awards at the British Book Awards in London. Despite the immense popularity of the memoir, it was overshadowed by other titles. The tell-all book caused a stir around the world with its bold claims about the Royal Family. Harry made allegations against various family members, revealing personal details and controversial incidents. Despite its high sales, Spare was not successful at the awards ceremony and failed to win in any category it was nominated in, losing out to other works such as Murdle by GT Karber and Politics On The Edge by Rory Stewart.
In his memoir, Prince Harry shared shocking revelations about his life and his family. He stated that William and Kate Middleton once encouraged him to dress up in a Nazi uniform for a fancy dress party, which drew severe criticism. He also expressed his disapproval of Charles’ marriage to Camilla, referring to her as the “wicked stepmother” at the time. Royal photographer Arthur Edwards questioned the accuracy of Harry’s claims in the book, particularly regarding the Queen Mother’s death. Edwards disputed Harry’s recollection of being at Eton when he received the news, stating that Harry was actually in Klosters at the time. There were also doubts raised about Harry’s claims of drug use, with suggestions that he may have exaggerated these details to increase book sales.
Prince Harry’s memoir also revealed that the original manuscript was twice the length of the final draft, with many interactions between him, Charles, and William edited out. Harry admitted to having 50 Zoom calls with his ghostwriter to determine which details to include and exclude from the book. He mentioned that there were some things he did not want the world to know, especially regarding his relationships with his brother and father, as he believed they would not forgive him for revealing certain information. Despite the extensive editing process, Spare provided a candid look into Harry’s life and his views on his family and upbringing.
At the British Book Awards, the panel of judges, which included Adrian Chiles and Lorraine Kelly, awarded Katherine Rundell the Author of the Year, snubbing Prince Harry, who was also nominated. This further highlighted the lack of recognition for Spare at the event. The book’s portrayal of royal family members in a negative light, combined with its controversial content, may have contributed to its lack of success at the awards. Prince Harry’s memoir faced steep competition from other non-fiction works, such as Politics On The Edge, which won the award in its category. Despite the accolades and popularity, Spare did not receive the same acclaim from industry professionals at the awards ceremony.
In conclusion, Prince Harry’s memoir Spare stirred up controversy and captured the public’s interest with its intimate revelations about his life and the Royal Family. Despite its commercial success in terms of book sales, the memoir did not achieve the same level of recognition at the British Book Awards, failing to win in any of the categories it was nominated in. The book’s portrayal of royal family members, along with the questions raised about the accuracy of its content, may have contributed to its loss at the awards ceremony. However, Spare remains a significant work in the literary world, offering readers a glimpse into the inner world of a member of the British royal family.
