If you love The Daily Beast’s royal coverage, then we hope you’ll enjoy The Royalist, a members-only series for Beast Inside. Become a member to get it in your inbox on Sunday.
Everyone has a view on what will be in Harry’s memoir
How many books is Prince Harry writing? Just one, he insists, contrary to the Daily Mail reporting Saturday it was four—including, the Mail claimed ominously, one to the published after the queen’s death.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Mail also reported Harry had negotiated a $40 million deal with Penguin Random House, and that the deal included a “wellness” book by wife Meghan Markle. The Mail claimed this meant the memoir that has already been announced by Harry was just “the tip of the iceberg.” Translation: the royals should really panic in terms of what he is about to dish.
But on Saturday came a statement from a spokesperson for the Sussexes: “Contrary to false media reports, there is only one memoir planned by The Duke of Sussex and it’s scheduled to be published in late 2022 as was announced earlier this week by Penguin Random House.” There was “no project co-ordinated around” the queen’s death.
The confirmed memoir will coincide with the queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and has caused a flurry of reported palace panic in that nobody knows exactly what Harry is writing about, or if he will use the memoir to extrapolate further on his beefs with his family, as already seen in his and Meghan’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, and podcast with Dax Shepard. What will he say about his father, Prince Charles? Will he reveal the identity of the alleged royal racist? Who knows? One thing we do know: everyone will be asking the same damn questions until the tome sees the light of day.
Some of Harry’s friends from his Eton and Army days are worried he may include them in his recollections.
One friend told the Mail on Sunday: “There is a fear that he’s going to reveal details of his hedonistic youth which some worry will play havoc with their careers and personal lives.”
Another said: “Harry’s mates have remained loyal to him… so far.” A source told the paper: “If Harry slams any of his old school and military buddies in his new book they have pledged to break ranks to tell their story.”
“I never thought he was out of control then,” a source who reportedly knows Harry well told the Sunday Times about Harry’s “party prince years,” which may be one focus of the memoir. “In his new Californian guise, I think he’ll tell it honestly, framed in the context of his ‘journey’ towards ‘healing.’ I think there will be a lot of the old broken me versus the new fixed me who dealt with the pain, and a lot about Meghan as the woman who liberated me to deal with it all.”
The Sunday Times ponders what Harry will write about the Asian army colleague he called “Ah, our little P*** friend Ahmed,” while at Sandhurst military academy in 2006.
When the story was first reported in 2009, Harry apologized. “Prince Harry fully understands how offensive this term can be, and is extremely sorry for any offense his words might cause,” a spokesperson said. “However, on this occasion three years ago, Prince Harry used the term without any malice and as a nickname about a highly popular member of his platoon. There is no question that Prince Harry was in any way seeking to insult his friend.”
Or there was the time Harry infamously wore a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party in 2005, for which he again apologized. “He’ll be smart enough to know that to gloss over those incidents would undermine the book,” a royal source who knows Harry told the Sunday Times.
How does the palace see the memoir? “I fear they may sail into the sunset now, convinced they did the right thing by speaking ‘their truth,’” a royal aide told the Sunday Times. “Now I hope everyone shuts the f*** up.” Charles has been “genuinely been so upset” by Harry’s criticisms of him. “He just doesn’t recognize any of the examples or narrative.”
Friends of William and Harry say William “despairs” of Harry, “but the shock factor is wearing off,” the paper says. “Palace aides are not confident that the Sussexes will provide senior Royals with an advance draft of the manuscript or even tell them about the content,” the Mail on Sunday says.
The Mail reported that Harry conducted the bidding process with potential publishers, “coldly” starting at $25 million, with the final figure between $35 and $40 million. Not sure what is “cold” about this; it just sounds, if true, that Harry conducted a successful business negotiation.
Grieving Queen “could not wait to get away” to Balmoral
Still grieving the death of husband Prince Philip, the queen is unsurprisingly reported to be very happy to be at Balmoral, the royals’ Scottish summer hideaway.
A source told the Sun on Sunday: “She could not wait to get away. She is still grieving very deeply and wanted to head to Balmoral to escape from things. She is also incredibly tired. The announcement of Harry’s book, and the new claims that he could release four books, are the last thing she needed.
“It is only just over three months since Philip was buried, so the book announcement is incredibly insensitive and seems another two fingers to the monarchy. But Her Majesty has told her family and staff that the only way to deal with it is to rise above it. She has actually surprised some staff with her restrained reaction to the book—although the suggestion (strongly denied by Harry, see above) another could be released after she dies has not helped.”
A source told the Mail on Sunday there was “anger and disappointment” among courtiers that awaiting the big reveal of Harry’s memoir may cause the queen anxiety.
Fergie: “I’m like an astronaut”
Whatever else one can say about Sarah, Duchess of York, she seems very determined to embrace discretion these days.
Fergie gave a distinctly measured interview to the Telegraph this weekend. “I’m like an astronaut,” she said, when discussing her many hats/labels. “The Duchess, Fergie… I carry these labels with me, they are always in my wardrobe—but this is me. It’s not about what’s happened in the past or the Royal family. I’m proud to say that to you. It’s very courageous, actually.”
Fergie gave the interview to publicize her Mills & Boon novel, Her Heart for a Compass, which will be published next month—and which sounds best consumed with a lot of chocolate and/or red wine.
“I am proud of my failings,” Fergie told the Telegraph. “The main message I would like readers to take away from (lead character) Margaret’s story is that no matter whether you make mistakes or get it all wrong, you keep going and fight for what you believe is your truth. You have to lead with your heart. Personally, I feel more robust, authentic, confident in myself and who I am and where I’m going than ever, and that feeling is very much reflected at the end of Margaret’s journey.”
The interviewer tried to draw Fergie on Meghan and Harry’s interview with Oprah, given Fergie had also sat down with Winfrey many years ago. “All I want to say on this is that Oprah helped me greatly when I went to the US and was interviewed by her,” Fergie said. “I’m a great supporter of Oprah and everything that she does.”
On any counsel she might offer Harry and Meghan, Fergie said, “I wouldn’t presume to give advice to Harry and Meghan, except to say to be happy. I think it’s wonderful that Meghan has written a children’s book; having done that myself, I know the effort it takes. I did have to make my own way in the world when I left the family, and it is not always easy.”
Fergie only had glowing praise for the queen (“her dedication of her entire life to the service of her country is an inspiration, as it is to people around the world”), and indicated how proud she was that she and Prince Andrew had stayed so close.
“We always say we are the most contented divorced couple in the world. We’re divorced to each other, not from each other. We are co-parents who support each other and believe that family is everything. I’m proud of the job we have done together in bringing up our children and sustaining a strong family unit.”
“I am comfortable with myself today: I love my red hair, I love my thin ankles, and I love my waistline,” Fergie concluded resoundingly. “I feel as if I’m just beginning my life and I’m so excited about all the things that I’ve got left to achieve.”
Harry and Meghan support journalists of color
Harry and Meghan have given their support to a group of journalists of color who claim the U.K. Society of Editors has not done enough to combat and condemn racism in its ranks—or act on the organization’s initial denial that racism was an issue in the country’s media.
The 123-strong group of journalists writes on Medium that the society has yet “to show genuine commitment to atoning for its insulting and ham-fisted blanket denial of racism. The society’s diversity initiatives are welcome but inadequate. It does not have the power to solve the longstanding industry-wide issues of inequality and lack of coverage. However, what it can and should do is offer moral leadership. By its silence, it is singularly failing to do so.”
Ian Murray, the then-executive director of the SoE, quit in March after claiming that the couple had been wrong to claim in their Oprah interview that the media in Britain was bigoted.
“From the beginning of our relationship, they were so attacking and incited so much racism,” Meghan said. Harry told Oprah: “The U.K. is not bigoted, the U.K. press is bigoted, specifically the tabloids,” adding, “But unfortunately if the source of information is inherently corrupt or racist or biased then that filters out to the rest of society.”
Murray’s defense of the British press was widely criticized at the time, including by many members of the SoE. The journalists who signed the Medium statement said they “cannot have faith in an organization that is so detached from our reality and we would urge its member organizations to consider their continued participation in the group.”
Harry and Meghan’s Archewell website linked to the Medium statement, writing that it was “a proud supporter of journalistic diversity and news media organizations that are committed to reporting the truth, uncovering untold stories and giving voice to the voiceless. In every corner of the world, members of the media are using their power—and responsibility—to inform the public, teach communities, battle misinformation and inspire change.
“We also applaud the work of independent media, nonprofit newsrooms and trusted local news collectives. They demonstrate the deep need for this critical profession to thrive and evolve, particularly in terms of racial equity and representation in news gathering and newsrooms. For these reasons, we are seeking to bring awareness to a coalition of U.K. journalists calling for stronger initiatives to combat the under representation, inequity and racial bigotry that still persist in this important industry.”
Harry and Meghan’s belongings removed from Frogmore: report
The recently vaunted idea that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would return to the U.K. for Lilibet’s christening at Windsor Castle, or the queen’s Platinum Jubilee, may have been premature. The Sun reports that their belongings have been removed from British bolthole Frogmore Cottage, and placed in storage.
“It is not known who ordered his belongings, said to include framed pictures, to be boxed up and left at the nearby castle,” the Sun says. Royal sources told the Sun it was “impossible to conceive” Harry and Meghan would come back to the U.K., given the hullabaloo over the publication of his memoir.
Diana’s niece marries in Italy
Princess Diana’s niece Kitty Spencer has married the fashion tycoon Michael Lewis in Italy. The Mail on Sunday reports that the lavish ceremony was held at the Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati, outside Rome. It is not known if she wore the Spencer tiara, which Diana wore for her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981, on which matter...
This week in royal history
Thursday, July 29, marks the 40th anniversary of Charles and Diana’s wedding day in 1981 at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Mark the day as you wish, but make sure it includes some Duran Duran.
Unanswered questions
What is in Harry’s memoir? (x 100, from now until publication date). And if the “shock factor” is wearing off when it comes to Harry and Meghan’s statements, will the royal family be significantly less rattled when the memoir itself is published?
