Prince Harry may have a second memoir in the works, according to royal author Robert Hardman, who has written biographies of King Charles and the late Queen. Speaking at the Hay Literary Festival, Hardman pointed to a major hint in Harry's controversial autobiography, "Spare," which sent shockwaves around the world when it was released last year.
Hardman, as quoted by the Independent, noted that the section covering Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in "Spare" only spans about four or five pages. "Now, as an author, that says to me one thing and one thing only: part two might be on its way," he said.
The author also suggested that "Spare" continues to affect family relations, particularly given the timing of its release. "The problem that exists is, at the moment, there is still a trust issue. People are still very wounded, particularly Prince William, that these intimate private childhood family moments all spilled out in Harry's book," Hardman explained. "It's not what Harry said, it's the fact that he said it, and he gave away so many secrets. And he was, effectively, at the time of the Queen's death, you know, he was taking notes."
Harry's revelations in "Spare" have further strained his relationships with his royal relatives, particularly with his brother, Prince William, whom he accused of physically attacking him during a heated argument in Kensington Palace. The Duke of Sussex has admitted that he avoided mentioning some anecdotes about his father and brother, fearing they would never forgive him if he revealed them.
Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, speaking on her YouTube podcast Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered, warned that a potential sequel to "Spare" could jeopardize Harry's chances of reconciling with the Royal Family. While acknowledging that the memoir was a commercial success and that Harry's contract with the publisher was for multiple books, Schofield cautioned that the Duke might not pursue a sequel at a time when his father, King Charles, and sister-in-law, Princess Kate, are undergoing treatment for cancer.
"I don't feel like he would put his family in such a weird position while they're battling multiple cancer issues, but I do think it's a no-brainer that if Spare were such a huge financial success for him that he leaned back into that," Schofield said. "I feel like that really was, aside from the Netflix docu-series, one of [the Sussexes'] only real commercial successes."
Schofield cited reports from the Telegraph indicating that some 25 pages had been removed from the original manuscript of "Spare" amid legal concerns and Harry's desire not to hurt his father's and brother's feelings. "We know there's still content out there in the world and I hope he wouldn't pursue this if he has any desire whatsoever of a real reconciliation. I think it would just jeopardise any hope of that in the future," she added.
Fellow royal expert Katie Nicholl echoed Schofield's sentiments, stating that while there was more than enough material for Harry to write a sequel, she questioned the timing. "Is this the time to be settling old scores? Is this the time to be going back over a painful past? I think, absolutely not," Nicholl said. She also noted that, according to her sources, Harry wants to have a better relationship with King Charles.
As speculation about a possible sequel to "Spare" continues to circulate, the potential impact on the already strained relationship between Prince Harry and the Royal Family remains a point of concern. With King Charles and Princess Kate currently battling cancer, commentators suggest that pursuing another memoir at this time could further damage any hopes of reconciliation between the Duke of Sussex and his family.
The brief coverage of Harry and Meghan's wedding in "Spare" has fueled speculation about the existence of additional material that could form the basis of a sequel. However, as the Royal Family navigates the challenges of illness and the ongoing rift with the Sussexes, the question remains whether Prince Harry will prioritize his desire for a better relationship with his family or pursue another potentially controversial literary venture.
