Prince Harry’s memoir accidentally goes on sale in Spain, with British press obtaining copies

Prince Harry’s memoir Spare (Transworld) has accidentally gone on sale in Spain, ahead of its release date next week, with the British press including MailOnline, the Sun, Reuters and Sky News obtaining copies

The memoir is titled En La Sombra in Spanish, which translates as “In the Shadow”. 

Reuters reported several bookstores in Spain were selling the much-awaited memoir before it was withdrawn. 

A spokesperson for the Spanish publisher, Barcelona-based Plaza y Janes Editores – which belongs to Penguin Random House (PRH) – told Sky: “A very clear launch protocol was established and communicated to all customers so that the book would not be marketed before that date. 

“Everything points to the fact that some customers have breached their commitment to the publisher and have put the book on sale before the agreed date.”

No advance copies of Spare have been officially released ahead of publication on Tuesday 10th January. It has previously been reported the book was being printed at Clays in Bungay, Suffolk, under conditions of great secrecy, with staff being checked on their way out for copies. Clays declined to comment when asked about the recent leak. 

PRH has not yet responded to requests for comment or indicated if it will affect the book’s PR and marketing campaign. Yesterday the Guardian received a leaked copy of the book despite “stringent security” reporting a claim by Harry that his brother Prince William physically attacked him during a fight about Harry’s wife Meghan.

The Telegraph reports Harry and Meghan have made no complaint about the Guardian story, and that it is believed the copy the newspaper received was English language. The Telegraph notes the Guardian is one of the few publications that does not appear on their banned list. In 2020, the couple announced that they would have “zero engagement” with the Sun, Daily Mail, Mirror or Express. 

The Guardian story was written by Martin Pengelly, a US-based reporter with a track record of obtaining copies of yet-to-be-published books. He was the first to obtain Fire and Fury (Little, Brown), Michael Wolff’s biography of Donald Trump.

Widespread coverage of the book has now emerged since several members of the British press obtained Spanish language editions. Revelations include Harry admitting he took cocaine as a teenager, killed 25 people in Afghanistan and that he and William asked Charles not to marry Camilla. A number of commentators have said the book is more revealing of the secrets of palace life than had been expected. Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have so far declined to comment on the book.

Despite the leaks, yesterday The Bookseller reported Spare is likely to miss its international on-sale date of 10th January in South Africa due to challenges around customs and security for the books in transit.

In an email seen by The Bookseller, a representative from Penguin Random House South Africa said the delays were caused by the “high level of security” around the book, which meant printing was done “as late as possible in Europe”.

ITV1 and ITVX will broadcast an interview with the Prince about his book at 9 p.m. on Sunday 8th January, two days before publication. In a newly released trailer for “Harry: The Interview”, interviewer Tom Bradby questions the Prince about his decision to discuss his relationships with family members in his autobiography, Spare. Harry says: “I don’t know how staying silent is ever going to make things better.” In response to a question about whether the memoir invades his family’s privacy, Harry says: “That would be the accusation from people that don’t understand or don’t want to believe that my family have been briefing the press.”

When asked about plans for the coronation of his father, King Charles, later this year, as well as his view of the monarchy and his role in it, Harry says: “There’s a lot that can happen between now and then. But, the door is always open. The ball is in their court. There’s a lot to be discussed and I really hope that they’re willing to sit down and talk about it.” He says he still believes in the monarchy, although he’s unsure about whether he will play a part in its future.

He has also spoken to CBS’s “60 minutes”, which will be broadcast in America on Sunday.  

Last month publisher Transworld said there are no plans for a newspaper serialisation of Spare. No further information about the PR and marketing campaign for the book has been released.