Spare Book Summary

Book Summary

15 min

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Brief Summary

A lot of people always questioned why or how Prince Harry could walk away from the Royal life. Of course, many couldn’t understand his motives given how grand the media has portrayed their lifestyle. However, life as a royal isn’t always glitz and glamour. There are numerous ceremonies, protocols, and hardships that come with it. Additionally, there may be some family struggles many of us don’t understand. Being part of the Royal Family means that one must always be responsible, aware of themselves, and open to public scrutiny. This may not be for everyone. And Prince Harry eventually realized that this life was also not for him or his new family.

Indeed there is a certain sense of self-empowerment when someone finally gets to tell their story and show the world who they really are. Even Princess Diana decided to air her experiences to the public through television. However, a book provides a much more personal and in-depth look into one’s experiences. In the book, Spare, Prince Harry shares his side of the story and re-introduces himself to the public. In this book, he lays down his struggles as a Royal, the challenges he had to face, and explains what ultimately made him walk away from the Royal life.

About the Author

Prince Harry is a member of the British Royal family and was previously known as the Duke of Sussex. He also had served the British Army in Iraq and other jurisdictions and attained the rank of Captain. He is also an active member and patron of several charitable organizations which revolve around wildlife conservation, helping children, aiding the impoverished, and honoring war veterans. He is also a proud father of two and is husband to Meghan Markle. Together, they run Archewell—a non-profit organization.

Topics

Biography & Memoir

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Takeaways

Life isn't always easy for Royals.
Sometimes family can hurt us the most.
It can take time for us to heal our emotional wounds.
The press was always hard on Prince Harry.
Sometimes it's okay to step away from what we know.

Key Insights

Many people have been following the British Royal family because of their symbol, grandiosity, and—of course—scandals. Some events that are stuck in the minds of the public for instance are Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, King Charles’ cheating incidents, and Diana’s death. We also hear about their yachts, special trips, and parties and we think, “hey, that kind of life doesn’t seem so bad.”. Because of this, a lot of people always dream about becoming a Royal. Also, many people follow their stories through various outlets such as social media and the news. However, we rarely do read or hear accounts directly from the Royals themselves. In the book Spare by Prince Harry himself, he takes into account the family dynamics of the British Royal family, his takes on some viral stories about him, and the obstacles he had to triumph over.

Although Spare doesn’t and couldn’t explore all the dynamics and tales of the Royal family, it has a lot to unpack. Harry even noted in an interview that the 400-page book was already sliced down into half due to how difficult it is to leave important matters out. In this summary, we get to see how Harry lived his life as a Royal to how he eventually got out of it. We also get a peak into the life of a Royal and how difficult it can become at times. More importantly, we get to understand why the book is entitled Spare.

Relentless Paparazzi Harassment and Stalking

Prince Harry's memoir, "Spare," delves into the life of a man who constantly grappled with the perils of fame and the invasive nature of the paparazzi. The memoir highlights the unfortunate reality that any woman Harry dated would also become a target for the relentless pursuit of the media. While Harry had grown accustomed to this harassment, it came as a shock to his girlfriends.

One incident that stood out was when Harry's girlfriend Chelsy discovered a tracking device on her car, an unsettling reminder of the constant stalking she endured. Overwhelmed by the idea of enduring a lifetime of such intrusive behavior, Chelsy expressed her uncertainty to Harry, ultimately leading to their breakup. Similar conversations occurred with other girlfriends, leaving Harry frustrated. He desired a relationship and the prospect of starting a family, but he recognized that expecting a partner to endure the constant stalking and harassment was asking too much.

In 2016, Harry's life took a dramatic turn when he began dating the American actress Meghan Markle. Unfortunately, things escalated to a new level of intensity. Media outlets began publishing stories that painted Meghan's family in a negative light, labeling them as "gangsters." Furthermore, snide comments about Meghan's background and race permeated the press, questioning what would happen if a member of the royal family had a child...