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The autobiographical saga of whining Prince Harry
I use the term saga to write about the Earl of Sussex Harry Windsor’s autobiography not in its definition of a “long story of heroic achievement” but with its second definition in mind of a “long, involved
Spare, Prince Harry’s ghost written by J R Moeringer autobiography published by Transworld, selling at pounds sterling 28, was released to public sale on January 10. Harry had interviews with ITV’s Tom Bradley and CBS News 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper which I listened to. Bradley asked him finally how he felt.”Very happy, truly happy and peaceful” Harry replied. Sceptic me does not believe that will last long.
The Guardian obtained a pre-release copy and had comments written before the book was released; two of which I read, and quote.
The exposé starts with the biased description of fisticuffs between the two brothers in Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace where Harry and wife Meghan were resident. Prince Charles was present and he is quoted in the book as having said: “Please boys, don’t make my final years a misery.” To my way of thinking, that plea alone should have been sufficient to stop Harry publishing this book, though probably he could not have resisted being egged on by revengeful Meghan. It is worse now since Charles is King and striving to be a good one.
The detailed quarrel was because brother and father were discussing Harry’s separation from the royal family, giving up official duties and leaving Britain altogether. Harry writes that William labeled Meghan ‘rude’, ‘abrasive’, ‘difficult’ and accused William of parroting media. He seems to make no mention of his actions and reactions, only that William “grabbed me by my collar, ripping my necklace, knocked me to the floor” where he fell on some crockery and sustained injuries on his back. Harry says William wanted him to react and fight back. “He left then looking regretful and apologized.” He is supposed to have said: “You don’t need to tell Meg about this. I didn’t attack you, Harold.” That last line and William calling him Harold made me totally disbelieve Harry’s version of an altercation the brothers would have had. Father and brother would have been highly worried at the steps Harry was taking and new life away from all he was used to, born to. Of course Meghan saw the bruises on Harry’s back but he says she was not angry.
Again much is made of the trauma he suffered at the death of his mother and reiterates how much he loved her. My comment is that William being older (15 to Harry’s 12) when Diana died, and understanding more and made adult before his time by Diana using him as confidante, he would have suffered more and deeper. But he has not paraded his sorrow nor wailed about the trauma suffered. Dignity has to be maintained and he is already an excellent Prince of Wales with a consort who knows her responsibilities and exhibits decorum and dignity.
Racism among the royals is mentioned and detailed. In my opinion I feel this is a blown up grouse of Meghan. Her mother is a coloured woman so she is a half Black American, hence if someone mentioned this, it had to be accepted and not twisted as an insult.
Meghan and Harry both share certain personality traits. They are outgoing and outrageous sometimes; very easy to fault others and get insulted and coddle hurt feelings but seldom acknowledge goodness shown, graciousness rendered to them, They are mean and vengeful but crafty too. They seek publicity all the time and yet blame the media as hounding them.
The title Spare is from the much used expression that described these brothers: heir to the throne and spare; the second in case something awful happened to the first born. In the book Harry mentions that his father, when he was born said his duty was done; he had produced an heir and a spare.
BBC news telecasts have been running news items about Harry and his book these past week or so. One was that the book would be out on January10. The other Harry having said “I want my brother back. I want my father back.” However can they reconcile with him after he’s let them down so very badly in Oprah’s interview, the Netflix documentary and now his autobiography? Another streaming news clip said there’s much more revealed in the book.
The latest news streaming is that Harry says Camilla is the villain. That’s unpardonable and hard to believe, since Camilla, Queen Consort, seems to know her place and behaves as a consort. This statement on Camilla is akin to Princess Diana saying in her Bashir interview that Prince Charles would not be king implying he was not suitable to be so. Harry’s damning the Queen Consort could have adverse repercussions on King Charles’ reign. The Brit Royal Family knows it is always judged and more so now that the Queen is gone.
On Tuesday, January 10 The Island carried a comment by Gwynne Dyer on Harry’s writing about his deployment in Afghanistan where he flew an Apache gunship of the Royal Air Force. Harry writes: “…in the course of two combat tours was recorded. I could say precisely how many enemy combatants I’d killed. And I felt it vital to never shy away from that number. So, my number: twenty five. It wasn’t a number that gave me satisfaction. But neither was it a number that made me feel ashamed.” As Dyer, who was himself a military man says, an armed forces person never gives numbers killed by him. Dyer magnanimously adds Harry’s ghostwriter must have written this, but Harry had the final say about what went into the book. Thus Dyer terms it A shocking disclosure. Another negative notched up.
I am not one jot interested in the book. In fact even if gifted a copy, I will not read it.
My pity, however, for Harry continues, more so after this latest act of betrayal. I feel he is damning his life. One certainty is that he could not reconcile himself to being the ‘spare‘ and resented his brother being given more attention, acknowledgment and yes, love and admiration. I abhor the word jealous but that is an emotion I adduce to Harry who is unreasonable. Everything could be so good for him if he’s one with his brother, his father and others if he just accepts the fact he is second fiddle to his brother who seemed to be a very protective elder brother. It is not ordained thus. To my way of surmising, his wife will not accept the royal status quo. No. The wails of the Sussex’s will continue. I suppose the next episode will be Meghan Markle’s autobiography heavily angled with no mention of an earlier marriage etc. Then to keep them in the limelight (dubious to me) Archie will scribble his story!
I add as a final thought that what I write and my opinion is debatable. There are many in Sri Lanka, as proved by two friends I had dinner with on Tuesday (Jan. 10), who are totally on the side of Meghan and Harry. I admit I am prejudiced against this young couple of two waywards who count many previous headline-making escapades. But once fully in the Royal Firm and accepted, they should place decorum top of the behaviour list. You cannot always take; you have to give too, more so those of the very old and tradition-bound British Royal Family.