"Spare" memoir by the Duke of Sussex (2023)

[Kaye1850]

Still odd to give out illegal substances as a party favour at one's wedding Even if it was Trevor's idea first, presumably Meghan could have stopped him if she wanted to.

Of course she could have. Meghan is magic!

 

[Prinsara]

My library came up with a quick-loan copy yesterday, so I started reading, got about 220 pages in, then wanted to take a look at the Meghan parts.

I will give Harry this: context is, of course, everything; it's not badly written, and reading the actual book makes him sound like much less of a clueless prat or troubled soul than any set of quotes or review. So that's either a credit to Harry or the ghostwriter. It's also amusing, the points where he says "the media were saying this, they were completely wrong, it was actually this". I imagine any public figure has probably wanted to do that, even if Harry's costs were quite pricey here.

The parts with Meghan start out all right, but get icky fast. (Art mirroring life.). For the degree more sympathy I feel for Harry from the first two parts, I'm still not sure I believe him as a reliable narrator and I do notice places he seems to be contradicting himself throughout (exhibit A: they had to share that bedroom at Balmoral; William had the bigger half.... but William wasn't in the room when Charles told him about Diana.....and Harry makes no point at all of William being told first. Huh??), and I would say it's very easy to believe Meghan edited the places she appears and anything having to do with her. With cake frosting and sprinkles.

Subject to change if and when I actually finish, but that's my take so far.

 

[Toledo]

My library came up with a quick-loan copy yesterday, so I started reading, got about 220 pages in, then wanted to take a look at the Meghan parts...

...Subject to change if and when I actually finish, but that's my take so far.

Enjoy the reading!
I'm not sure if he is still doing the interview circuit so I'm giving this thread a comment vacation. And subject to change, I'll stick with reading comments until we had something new like another round of TV interviews from Harry on the matter. ?

 

[Denville]

Im not at all sure if they were sharing a room at Balmoral.
I think i remember reading that when Diana died, the queen said something about taking the TV sets from the boys' rooms, so that they would not be watching tv and seeing all the stuff about the accident.
if Harry was sharing a room, surely Charles would sit both of them down and tell them the tragic news?
and re the issue of the WIlliam having the bigger half? Surely, anyone givng a room to 2 boys near in age, would make sure that they had exactly half each in order to prevent rows? Did WIll have a bigger bed and wardrobe than Harry? was there a line in the room between W's half and Harry's?

 

[Lee-Z]

well, as with everything from this book, we only get Harry's perspective, that doesn't mean that it is factually true and/or that he had advantages over William he doesn't tell us because it doesn't fit his narrative

Even if the room was smaller, doesn't mean it had other perks, like a better view, closer to the kitchens for easier midnight snacking etc etc

 

[Denville]

well, as with everything from this book, we only get Harry's perspective, that doesn't mean that it is factually true and/or that he had advantages over William he doesn't tell us because it doesn't fit his narrative

Even if the room was smaller, doesn't mean it had other perks, like a better view, closer to the kitchens for easier midnight snacking etc etc

but if Harry's telling the truth, they shared a room. HIs part of it was smaller but how could it be closer to the kitchens? In any case i doubt if any of the bedrooms were noticeably closer to the kitchens.

 

[Lee-Z]

That was just an example fyi, i don't think Harry is telling *the* truth, just his perception of it (which is his choice as it's his book)

 

[Lilyflo]

Im not at all sure if they were sharing a room at Balmoral.
I think i remember reading that when Diana died, the queen said something about taking the TV sets from the boys' rooms, so that they would not be watching tv and seeing all the stuff about the accident.
if Harry was sharing a room, surely Charles would sit both of them down and tell them the tragic news?
and re the issue of the WIlliam having the bigger half? Surely, anyone givng a room to 2 boys near in age, would make sure that they had exactly half each in order to prevent rows? Did WIll have a bigger bed and wardrobe than Harry? was there a line in the room between W's half and Harry's?

From the book (he describes Balmoral as paradise).

Balmoral had fifty bedrooms, one of which had been divided for me and Willy. Adults called it the nursery. Willy had the larger half, with a double bed, a good sized basin, a cupboard with mirrored doors, a beautiful window looking down on the courtyard, the fountain, the bronze statue of a roe deer buck. My half of the room was far smaller, less luxurious. I never asked why. I didn't care. But I also didn't need to ask. Two years older than me, Willy was the Heir, whereas I was the Spare.

The nursery must have had a dividing wall between the two halves because a few paragraphs later he describes being told his mother had died and that William had already been told "in the other room".

 

[Alison H]

I had a bigger bedroom than my sister when we were growing up. The house had two double bedrooms and two single bedrooms. I got the second double because I was the eldest. My sister has not been traumatised by this: she just accepted it. Presumably "the nursery" had some sort of natural division, and William just got the better part because he was the eldest. Is it such a big deal to have mirrored doors and "a good sized basin"?

 

[Denville]

From the book (he describes Balmoral as paradise).


The nursery must have had a dividing wall between the two halves because a few paragraphs later he describes being told his mother had died and that William had already been told "in the other room".

oh honestly. He is SOOO maddening... I cant believe that i once liked him. and it is SO obvious that he has had a grudge against William almost from babyhood over the fact that Will was the heir, not him..
I remember years ago when Harry was small that it said in some books about the family that if William gave the impression he did not want to be king, Harry would say If you dont want it, then I'll be king. I did not quite believe it, and normally i wouldn't hold something that a kid maybe said, against him, but honestly, its hard not to think that Harry DID always have a peeve against his brother for being 2 years older, and he's now lashing out at him, and making fun of him, because he knows he himself will never be king...

Is it really likely that Will's room was luxurious and Harry's was a broom cupboard? and also, I would have thought that the boys were told together about Diana's injuries and then her death. surely the best thing would be to sit them down in one bedroom and tell them? why leave them to face this awful news without each other for comfort?

 

[Denville]

That was just an example fyi, i don't think Harry is telling *the* truth, just his perception of it (which is his choice as it's his book)

Not if his perception of the truth is wrong. If they did not have a shared bedroom, he should not say that they did. If the QM died when he was on holiday, he should not say that he was at Eton.

 

[FigTree]

From the book (he describes Balmoral as paradise).


The nursery must have had a dividing wall between the two halves because a few paragraphs later he describes being told his mother had died and that William had already been told "in the other room".

One presumes by 1997 they were out of the nursery and it would have been, at that time Bea and Eug, when they stayed. It’s probably been used by Louise and James, and on and on to Great grandchildren.

If it was the nursery it probably enabled the nanny to stay next door. At 15 and 12 they hardly needed this.

 

[Denville]

I dont think they had a nanny by then, Tiggy LB was a sort of big sister who looked after them but she wasn't working for them at the time.

 

[Lilyflo]

One presumes by 1997 they were out of the nursery and it would have been, at that time Bea and Eug, when they stayed. It’s probably been used by Louise and James, and on and on to Great grandchildren.

If it was the nursery it probably enabled the nanny to stay next door. At 15 and 12 they hardly needed this.

It sounds like those bedrooms had previously been part of 'the nursery', one large room of which had been divided into two separate bedrooms. By 1997, the family probably didn't have use for a fully functioning nursery at Balmoral, as modern parents generally didn't confine their children to a separate area of the house, overseen and occupied by nannies as they had been from when the castle was built up until the Queen's grandchildren's generation probably.

 

[FigTree]

It sounds like those bedrooms had previously been part of 'the nursery', one large room of which had been divided into two separate bedrooms. By 1997, the family probably didn't have use for a fully functioning nursery at Balmoral, as modern parents generally didn't confine their children to a separate area of the house, overseen and occupied by nannies as they had been from when the castle was built up until the Queen's grandchildren's generation probably.

I think they would keep a large nursery area where the the kids could keep stuff. Probably had toys and the like too. There are 50 rooms. They could be put somewhere else. At the time of Diana's death, I think there was 10 of the family. Anne and Charles family and the Queen Philip, Elizabeth and the Queen mother. There were enough rooms.

He moaned about being shuttled out to former servants area in Sandringham too. But he was a single man in his 20's and 30's in house with a hugh number of people. There were younger family members, those with young children and teenagers who would want to stay near family members. They give the family houses on the estate for Christmas too ( ones they usually rent out).

He had no ties and was easy to place. He didn't need to be near Daddy.

His moans about the room being turned into a dressing room at Clarence House too. It is well documented, from their own words, that as adults (maybe even towards mid to late teens) W and H had their own apartment. I always thought Harry stayed their when William got married but apparently he didn't. He moved to Kensington. Did Camilla take the whole place over? And why should she not? They were unlikely ever to come back.

 

[Denville]

I think they would keep a large nursery area where the the kids could keep stuff. Probably had toys and the like too. There are 50 rooms. They could be put somewhere else. At the time of Diana's death, I think there was 10 of the family. Anne and Charles family and the Queen Philip, Elizabeth and the Queen mother. There were enough rooms.

He moaned about being shuttled out to former servants area in Sandringham too. But he was a single man in his 20's and 30's in house with a hugh number of people. There were younger family members, those with young children and teenagers who would want to stay near family members. They give the family houses on the estate for Christmas too ( ones they usually rent out).

I just dont quite see them in a nursery room, when they were 12 and 15 15 y o. possibly they had been moved into separate adult style bedrooms by then, and as Harry was younger he did get a smaller room, but I doubt if H got the box room with a sofa bed and Will got a luxury room. probably they were in rooms next to each other or near each other, so they could spend time in and out of each other's rooms. and I also find it hard to beleive that Charles told them the bad news separatly. would it not be more natural to call them in togehter and sit on the bed and tell them that Diana was injured badly, and then that she did not survive.

 

[FigTree]

I just dont quite see them in a nursery room, when they were 12 and 15 15 y o. possibly they had been moved into separate adult style bedrooms by then, and as Harry was younger he did get a smaller room, but I doubt if H got the box room with a sofa bed and Will got a luxury room. probably they were in rooms next to each other or near each other, so they could spend time in and out of each other's rooms. and I also find it hard to beleive that Charles told them the bad news separatly. would it not be more natural to call them in togehter and sit on the bed and tell them that Diana was injured badly, and then that she did not survive.

That's my point. They weren't in the nursery. They were in their own rooms. Maybe when they were small. My thoughts are the room is still there. The house looks like no one has done it up since the 1970's at the latest. Which is probably why Meghan never went. Wouldn't be up to her standards. She stayed at Charles place which is probably immaculate.

Who knows how he told them. I doubt there is an accurate recall from Harry.

 

[Denville]

Did he say something about holding his fahter's hand in public when looking at the flowers?

 

[SirGyamfi1]

Another contradictory thing, in the audio he says that there wasn’t any special training for Meghan regarding a kidnapping or whatever, whereas in Finding Freedom, Omid said that Meghan had the training.

 

[FigTree]

Did he say something about holding his fahter's hand in public when looking at the flowers?

He did. I just looked at it. At best I have flicked through it.

They were obviously in a nursery slash teenage area of the Castle. They had a sitting room, bathroom.

Also Mabel the nanny was there and she would hang out with them there. No mention of Peter and Zara who were definitely there. But if I remember rightly, Zara who was 16 didn't come out to see flowers.

 

[Curryong]

Did he say something about holding his fahter's hand in public when looking at the flowers?

Harry did hold Charles’s hand for a while while the family moved outside the gates of Balmoral to look at the flowers. It was filmed by TV crews at the time. Harry mentions it in his book.

 

[TLLK]

Im not at all sure if they were sharing a room at Balmoral.
I think i remember reading that when Diana died, the queen said something about taking the TV sets from the boys' rooms, so that they would not be watching tv and seeing all the stuff about the accident.
if Harry was sharing a room, surely Charles would sit both of them down and tell them the tragic news?
and re the issue of the WIlliam having the bigger half? Surely, anyone givng a room to 2 boys near in age, would make sure that they had exactly half each in order to prevent rows? Did WIll have a bigger bed and wardrobe than Harry? was there a line in the room between W's half and Harry's?

I understand that Harry complained that William had a larger bed at Balmoral. From viewing the photos from Diana's funeral, at 15 years old, William was already as tall or taller than his father and grandfather. He was going to need an adult sized bed. Twelve year old Harry though hadn't had a adolescent growth sput yet and a smaller one was still fine for his height. The larger room was likely necessary to accommodate a bigger bed.

 

[FigTree]

I use read more. All I can say is that Zara, Peter, William and Mabel (who I persume is no longer with us) would have varying recollections. He paints a picture of wandering all alone. He may have felt alone but ai doubt he was because that would mean each and everyone of them are pretty heartless.

She was alive a year ago. She is around the late Queens age.

 

[Denville]

He did. I just looked at it. At best I have flicked through it.

They were obviously in a nursery slash teenage area of the Castle. They had a sitting room, bathroom.

Also Mabel the nanny was there and she would hang out with them there. No mention of Peter and Zara who were definitely there. But if I remember rightly, Zara who was 16 didn't come out to see flowers.

Mabel? was that Charles' nanny who was quite elderly?
re the hand holding, I thought that Harry said something about how he held C's hand outside, and then wished he hadn't because the press snapped it. but surely the fact that he reached for his father's hand, shows that he expected his father to hold his hand and be some comfort to him. So it doesnt really chime with the stuff that CHarles didnt hug him etc.

 

[FigTree]

Mabel? was that Charles' nanny who was quite elderly?
re the hand holding, I thought that Harry said something about how he held C's hand outside, and then wished he hadn't because the press snapped it. but surely the fact that he reached for his father's hand, shows that he expected his father to hold his hand and be some comfort to him. So it doesnt really chime with the stuff that CHarles didnt hug him etc.

As above. In 97 she would have been around the Queens age. 70 odd.

 

[Denville]

I use read more. All I can say is that Zara, Peter, William and Mabel (who I persume is no longer with us) would have varying recollections. He paints a picture of wandering all alone. He may have felt alone but ai doubt he was because that would mean each and everyone of them are pretty heartless.

She was alive a year ago. She is around the late Queens age.

As I recall, William ran off into the hills, and they were looking for him, but he probalby wanted to go away and cry alone... so its unlikely that Harry was left alone in misery, he may well have also wandered off on his own, but Im sure the family adn staff were keeping an eye out to see that he did not disappear or get lost.

 

[Denville]

As above. In 97 she would have been around the Queens age. 70 odd.

Im guessing she was retired and helping out with royal kids occasionally. but Charles got Tiggy LB to come and stay to keep the boys company.

 

[FigTree]

Im guessing she was retired and helping out with royal kids occasionally. but Charles got Tiggy LB to come and stay to keep the boys company.

She's who us mentioned and referred to as our nanny. Used to be Daddy's too.

Also mentions Tiggy as one of the nanny's. Their favourite though but she didn't like the word nanny.

 

[Prinsara]

There's another time which oddly clashes with one of William's recollections.

Harry describes chasing Zara and the accident, but not getting chewed out by the Queen, I think.

William describes all of this, but mentions being with Peter, not Harry.

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

I can't believe Harry complains that his older brother had a bigger room and this is a sign of how difficult his life is. Has he never talked to other people? Older siblings tend to get the bigger room, only room etc. This has nothing to do with the firm and everything to do with family dynamics. It seems he's just desperate for things to whine about.