‘Quiet’ moves have been taken by Buckingham Palace to ensure that Prince Harry or Prince Andrew will not be allowed to step in while the King recovers from an upcoming medical procedure.
King Charles III will be admitted to hospital next week for a treatment of an enlarged prostate – and will need “a short period of recovery” afterwards, aides confirmed on Wednesday. The announcement came on the same day it was confirmed that Kate, Princess of Wales will also be set for a long stay in hospital after “successful” abdominal surgery. It means the two senior royals will be absent from public duties while they rest and recuperate.
SPARE, which was released with much fanfare in January 2024, has been met with widespread criticism for its negative portrayal of the Royal Family and Harry’s perceived self-indulgence. The book has also failed to live up to commercial expectations, selling far fewer copies than anticipated.
Dohle’s decision to withdraw Penguin Random House’s support is a clear indication of his dissatisfaction with the book’s performance. In a statement released to the media, Dohle said, “We at Penguin Random House are committed to publishing high-quality books that resonate with readers. Unfortunately, SPARE has not met these standards. We believe that the best course of action is to withdraw our sponsorship from the book and focus on our other projects.”
The financial consequences of Dohle’s decision are potentially dire for Harry. According to reports, Harry received a $35 million advance for SPARE. However, his contract with Penguin Random House reportedly contains a clause that allows the publisher to recoup unearned advances if a book fails to meet certain sales targets. With SPARE’s underwhelming performance, it is likely that this clause will be triggered, forcing Harry to repay a significant portion of his advance.
In addition to the financial blow, Dohle’s decision is a major blow to Harry’s public image. SPARE has already damaged his relationship with the Royal Family, and Dohle’s withdrawal of support further tarnishes his reputation. It remains to be seen whether Harry can recover from this public relations nightmare.
The fallout from SPARE is far from over. It will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds in the coming months. Will Harry be able to recover his financial losses? Will he be able to repair his relationship with the Royal Family and the public? Only time will tell.
