Harry savaged over his ‘tell-all’ memoir
LOS ANGELES: One of Prince Harry’s most outspoken critics has branded his upcoming memoir a “f..king joke”.
Minutes after Harry, who is just 36, revealed he is penning a tell-all book about his life (so far), British royal commentator Piers Morgan tweeted: “You’ve got to be f..king joking ????? ”
“Ready to tell his story? Prince Privacy hasn’t stopped yapping, whining & trashing his family all bloody year,” Morgan added.
The former TV presenter’s savage spray came after Harry announced he is writing an “intimate and heartfelt” memoir about royal family life, having signed a deal with a leading US publisher for its release in 2022.
Publishing experts say the controversial prince would have been given a hefty advance of about $27m. Harry has said he will give the money to charity.
“Prince Harry will share, for the very first time, the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him,” publisher Random House said.
“Covering his lifetime in the public eye from childhood to the present day, including his dedication to service, the military duty that twice took him to the front lines of Afghanistan, and the joy he has found in being a husband and father, Prince Harry will offer an honest and captivating personal portrait, one that shows readers that behind everything they think they know lies an inspiring, courageous, and uplifting human story.”
Media reports said Harry hadn’t bothered to tell his family, including his father Prince Charles, that he is writing an explosive memoir which is expected to further widen the rift between him and the royal family.
Palace officials only found out about the upcoming book when Page Six, the New York Post website, broke the story, multiple sources said.
One palace source said Prince Charles was “surprised” by the announcement.
“No one knew,” another royal insider said.
“There was chaos when the Page Six story came out.”
Harry said he was writing the book “not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become”.
“I’ve worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively, and my hope is that in telling my story – the highs and lows, the mistakes, the lessons learned – I can help show that no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think,” he said.
“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to share what I’ve learned over the course of my life so far and excited for people to read a first-hand account of my life that’s accurate and wholly truthful.”
The news didn’t go down well in Britain, where Harry and wife Meghan Markle have become royal pariahs.
“Oh Harry, leave the ghostwritten autobiographies to the footballers. Your Granny hasn’t felt the need to tell ‘her story’ having lived three times as long as you,” TV presenter Colin Brazier tweeted.
Royal biographer Robert Jobson wrote: “I’d say the Windsor Christening of Lilibet with the Queen present might well be off! Unless he intends to combine it with a book-signing tour of the UK.”