Book 28/30.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Spare, a memoir by Prince Harry, chronicles The Duke of Sussex’s life from his childhood and the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, to his military service, marriage to Meghan Markle, and subsequent step back from royal duties. The memoir’s title highlights Prince Harry’s position as Prince Charles’s “Spare” (i.e., contingency heir), in contrast to Prince William’s role as “Heir.”
Part 1 – out of the night that covers me – tells the story of Prince Harry’s life between 1997 and 2006. Prince Harry loses his mother, Diana, in 1997 and struggles with school, drug use, and intense media scrutiny in the years that follow. After Eton, he spends a gap year working in Australia and Lesotho before beginning military training at Sandhurst. His personal life remains a constant source of tabloid attention, while his father’s marriage to Camilla in 2005 causes further tension within the family.
Part 2 – bloody, but unbowed – covers the period between 2007 and 2015. Prince Harry blames the paparazzi for his mother’s death and considers reopening the inquest, but the Palace discourages him. His military career takes him to Afghanistan, while his return to civilian life brings anxiety, media scandals, and intense scrutiny of his relationships. Inspired by his work with wounded soldiers, he later founds the Invictus Games and continues supporting conservation efforts in Africa.
Part 3 – captain of my soul – recounts events from 2016 to 2021. Prince Harry falls in love with Meghan Markle, but their relationship is soon overwhelmed by racist press coverage, family tensions, and growing concerns about Meghan’s wellbeing. After their wedding, the couple becomes increasingly unhappy with royal life and media scrutiny, eventually stepping down from royal duties and moving to North America. They lose royal funding and security, experience further personal hardship, and build a new life in California. After Queen Elizabeth’s death, Harry returns to London for her funeral, where he and Prince William remain distant before Harry returns home.
Part 3 was easily my favourite part because I am a Meghan Markle stan AF!!! To be very honest, their love story is the main reason I bought his memoir, because I am not the biggest fan of Prince Harry in and of himself. Do not get me wrong, I have no beef with Harry (unlike his racist father and brother), but I am all about Harry AND Meghan. So it definitely affected my rating that I had to wade through Parts 1 and 2 to get to the good stuff. Especially because Part 1 was not too bad, but Part 2 was where I started feeling the length of the memoir.
** A guide to ratings **
1 star – did not like it
2 stars – it was okay
3 stars – liked it
4 stars – really liked it
5 stars – it was amazing