Finally read ‘Spare’

Serendipity22

I bought it, read it and have nothing but sympathy for Harry.

You always see the best in everyone and everything Serendipity
(Unlike bitter old cynical me!)

Well I was hoping to feel some sympathy for him as I read it because I was thinking maybe he is just a victim of the press. My sympathy ebbed away, though,as it became clear he was so biased and out of touch with reality. The press where I live don’t particularly ‘hate’ him, they are fairly neutral and they don’t actually mention the couple very often.

nanna8

Well I was hoping to feel some sympathy for him as I read it because I was thinking maybe he is just a victim of the press. My sympathy ebbed away, though,as it became clear he was so biased and out of touch with reality. The press where I live don’t particularly ‘hate’ him, they are fairly neutral and they don’t actually mention the couple very often.

But perhaps it is accumulative and when you have seen your mother hounded and upset, had your whole life documented and displayed, and then suddenly realise exactly the same thing is going to happen to your wife and any children you have, it becomes too much to bear. Especially when you know that, unlike William and Charles, you are not going to get any top job as a reward for putting up with it.

I feel sorry for Harry, I am sure he has had much counselling but cannot accept the fact his mother brought about much tragedy herself, to do so would mean admitting she was not a saint.

unlike William and Charles, you are not going to get any top job as a reward for putting up with it.

Harry didn’t need to inherit a top job, he was already well on the way to creating one of his own.

He was popular, he had more freedom than William and he married a woman who ticked so many boxes that all they had to do was take a little time to establish their value to the RF.

Now we know a lot more about his personality we realise that nothing would have been good enough to wipe the scowl from his face.

We’ve been Spared!

I can't remember where in the book, but Harry does state that from the beginning he was the more difficult, rebellious child. His mother recognised that, but in some ways her own behaviour just compounded Harry's grumpy outlook on his own position. I don't know how he should have been handled to make him feel happier in his own skin, but I hope he doesn't carry his resentment forward into his own children's upbringing.
A line sometimes needs to be drawn, or life is full of resentment and recriminations.

Yes Joseann you’re right, a line does sometimes need to be drawn, otherwise people can become stuck in a circle of resentment and consequently are never able to move on. My own sister fits this pattern and to be honest I think it has ruined her life and destroyed many of her relationships, including mine with her. Harry is following the same pattern.

merlotgran I agree with you. It seemed to me that Harry really did have the best of both worlds.
I’m sure that he’ll be back at some point

merlotgran

^unlike William and Charles, you are not going to get any top job as a reward for putting up with it.^

Harry didn’t need to inherit a top job, he was already well on the way to creating one of his own.

He was popular, he had more freedom than William and he married a woman who ticked so many boxes that all they had to do was take a little time to establish their value to the RF.

Now we know a lot more about his personality we realise that nothing would have been good enough to wipe the scowl from his face.

We’ve been Spared!

Well said, merlotgran

Far better not to have the 'top job' with all its protocols and restrictions.

Yes, they both had so much to offer if they'd chosen to stay and, if they had decided that life in the glare of publicity was not for them, then who could blame them.

But that is not what they chose. They didn't want to share the limelight, they wanted their own so they have not shunned publicity and now it seems to be backfiring on them.

There is also much that has been kept from the public about their behaviour when they were here too as the Royal Family has in fact shielded them from more adverse media reports.

Harry really did have the best of both worlds

Indeed he did. Just a pity he didn’t realise that himself.

Callistemon21

merlotgran

unlike William and Charles, you are not going to get any top job as a reward for putting up with it.

Harry didn’t need to inherit a top job, he was already well on the way to creating one of his own.

He was popular, he had more freedom than William and he married a woman who ticked so many boxes that all they had to do was take a little time to establish their value to the RF.

Now we know a lot more about his personality we realise that nothing would have been good enough to wipe the scowl from his face.

We’ve been Spared!

Well said, merlotgran

Far better not to have the 'top job' with all its protocols and restrictions.

Yes, they both had so much to offer if they'd chosen to stay and, if they had decided that life in the glare of publicity was not for them, then who could blame them.

But that is not what they chose. They didn't want to share the limelight, they wanted their own so they have not shunned publicity and now it seems to be backfiring on them.

There is also much that has been kept from the public about their behaviour when they were here too as the Royal Family has in fact shielded them from more adverse media reports.

Well nothing new there.
Much has been covered up for all of them. William certainly isn't the angel he is painted as.

And actually after the first burst of publicity they have both been quite quiet. They have certainly protected their children.

It is in the same category as Fifty Shades of Grey as far as I am concerned in that there was a lot of hype about it, it was dreadfully written sensationalism and I have no intention of ever reading it..

Yes,Harry used to be popular and a bit of a larrikin as they would say here. What a shame he has changed so much. I don’t know whether or not it is because of Meghan’s influence but I tend to think if he had married Chelsy he would be a lot better off ( and nicer to know) .

I was given a copy by a family member. They found it unreadable and as I’m an avid reader, passed it on to me to see if I fared any better. Sadly not, as I only managed to get part way through it before giving up. It’s a self pity fest. South Park got it right. Waaaah would have been a more accurate title !!

And actually after the first burst of publicity they have both been quite quiet
Probably it didn't go down quite as well as they'd hoped.

Much has been covered up for all of them
Glorianny I don't really care whether or not any of them have private marital problems, that is not our business.
I'm talking about bullying of staff.

MRGUDER

The problem I see is where do Librarians shelve the book? Under Fact or Fiction?

As an ex-librarian I agree! 🤣🤣

I wouldn’t read it - too many books too little time. As for the RF being able to reply as Charles and Diana did - didn’t that go well?! I should thing the Prince and Princess of Wales have learnt that lesson.

And actually after the first burst of publicity they have both been quite quiet. They have certainly protected their children.

I suspect the reason we haven’t heard from them lately is the fact that having shot themselves in the foot with their constant whingefest and losing a lot of support, they have been advised to keep their heads down for a while.

Takes time to recover from the 3 hour car chase in New York,
the one they thought happened!

larrikin that's a lovely word!

I might employ if for a few I know.

larrikin suited him down to the ground years ago, nanna8
Even on their visit to Australia after their marriage, Harry and Meghan were well received and he was lovely with the crowds who gathered to see them.

Now he's becoming a whingeing Pom.

FANNY

You are absolutely wonderful JUST THE WAY YOU ARE. 😃
Thank you for the bunch of blooms.....

We're all Dolly mixtures

😃

Interesting I read a brief article about how William wants ALL of his children more involved with any decisions when they’re adults in order to spare Charlotte and Louis the pain of “sparedom” There is a theme here, Harry, Andrew, Margaret ??

According to a recent report - think it was on GB News - Spare is currently the book most left behind at holiday resorts !!

Cossy

Interesting I read a brief article about how William wants ALL of his children more involved with any decisions when they’re adults in order to spare Charlotte and Louis the pain of “sparedom” There is a theme here, Harry, Andrew, Margaret ??

Yes "Spare" and the consequences isn't new.
I think 2 of the people who have coped well with the "being royal" bit are Eugenie and Beatrice. In spite of all their father's pushing for them to be royal, and his misdemeanors they seem to have come out of it OK. They did have terrible press at one time, mostly about the way they dressed. They were protected as children but lost that as they became adults. I believe they are very close to Harry, perhaps understandably.