Last month, Harry and Meghan already told their story in a Netflix series. What else does the autobiography add?
“Spare would contain even more shocking details than the television series. King Charles would be spared, possibly because he was a caring father. If it contains harmful stories, they will mainly be about Prince William.
“You can also see that in the passage about which The Guardian already reported. During a discussion in 2019, William is said to have said that Meghan Markle was “difficult” and “brutal”. Harry writes that his brother then knocked him down. It has been ages since such stories of physical violence were brought out. Until the 18th century it was perhaps not uncommon for royal brothers to physically attack each other, now it is different.”
How likely do you think the palace will respond to the story?
“Keep calm and carry on has long been Buckingham Palace’s crisis management strategy. I think the royal family will only deviate from that when Charles or the monarchy itself are called into question, but that is not the case for the time being.
“You can draw a parallel with the situation of King Edward VIII, the uncle of Elizabeth II. He abdicated so that he could marry the divorced Wallis Simpson. He later also wrote a biography and attacked his family. He called them ‘a bunch of stinkers’. The royal family did not respond then either and is also thinking in the long term. Charles is spared and if William ever becomes king, the story about the fight with his brother will be old already.”
Harry carefully divides his revelations into several series and books. To what extent does that strategy render his story implausible?
“In any case, it is a revenue model in which Harry and Meghan capitalize on the internal stories they tell about their family. That is why many commentators comment and wonder what they will do when the story is completely exhausted.
“I can imagine why Harry would like to talk about his life. The title of his book refers to the fact that he was never entitled to the throne. That is not an easy role. Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth’s sister, also had a hard time with it. They are in a family with a function without having a function themselves. By telling the story, he can give meaning to his life and process traumas.”
How do Harry and Meghan’s personal stories affect their popularity?
“In the United States, there is a lot of sympathy for the couple among interested parties. The story of a black woman who ends up in an institution that white supremacy associated is sensitive. In the UK they are seen more as traitors. In addition, Britons wonder why Harry and Meghan complain when they are rich themselves. When they moved to the United States and still asked for money for their security, there was also a lot of misunderstanding.”
In a recent interview, Harry said he hopes for a reconciliation with his family. A realistic wish?
“As long as he brings out such stories, it is difficult. It would be interesting for Harry’s popularity. The British often follow the royal family as a kind of soap opera. A nice reconciliation is appreciated. Although many people in the country are currently having too much trouble paying their bills to pay much attention to it.”