The autobiography of Prince Harry became a worldwide bestseller among non-fiction books almost immediately after its world premiere, which took place only on January 10, 2023. The original title of the book “Spare” was translated into Polish as “The Second One”, because in the British royal family the terms “heir” (heir) and “spare” (spare, second) are used. The position causes numerous controversies – the prince really did not hold back, describing numerous events from his life and the backstage of the functioning of the royal family.
Prince Harry didn’t hold back. Polish premiere of his book
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with the help of John Joseph Moehringer (an American writer and journalist who was born with the Pullitzer Prize in 2000), he talks about the many events that took place from his birth until his departure from the royal family in 2020 and the death of his unborn child. He writes, among others about the moment when he found out about the tragic death of his mother, about how many people he killed in Afghanistan or about the last words addressed to Queen Elizabeth II.
“Harry… Grandpa passed away.” Excerpts from the introduction of Prince Harry’s autobiography
The publisher made available in . In it, the prince describes the meeting with his father and after his grandfather’s funeral, which inspired him to write an autobiography.
“The Windsors had been at war for many months. Our ranks had been at odds from time to time, for centuries, but this time it was different. This was a full-scale public rift, threatening irreparable losses. Therefore, although I flew home only for the funeral Grandpa, once there, I asked for a confidential meeting with my older brother Willy and my father to talk about how things were going.
They looked grim, almost threatening as they strode towards me, side by side. More than that, they looked unanimous. My heart leapt into my throat. Normally they would have argued about this or that, but now they seemed to be in unison – in formation. Wait, did we agree? for a walk… or for a duel?” – we read further.
“I was trying to get my point across. I wasn’t doing very well. I was nervous trying to keep my emotions in check while trying to be succinct and precise. I vowed not to let this meeting turn into another argument. that it wasn’t up to me. Dad and Willy had their parts to play and they came ready to fight. Every time I offered a new explanation, a new line of thought, one or both would interrupt me. Willy especially wouldn’t hear anything. after he shushed me several times, we started arguing, saying the same things we’ve been saying for months – for years – The atmosphere got so hot Daddy threw up his hands.
– Enough of this!
He stood between us, looking up at our burning faces.
“Please, boys, don’t make the rest of my days a torment.
His voice sounded grating, brittle. To be honest: old. I thought about my grandfather.
In an instant, something stirred within me. I looked at Willy, really looked at him, maybe for the first time since we were boys. I saw everything: the familiar grimace he assumed when interacting with me, the disturbing baldness more advanced than mine; his famous resemblance to his mother, which diminished over time. With age. In some ways, he was my reflection in the mirror, in others, the opposite. My beloved brother, my persecutor – how did this happen?
I felt extremely tired. I wanted to go home, and it dawned on me how complicated the concept of home had become. Or maybe it always was. I waved my hand towards the gardens, the city beyond, the whole country, and said:
“Willy, this was supposed to be our home. We were going to live here for the rest of our lives.
“You have abandoned us, Harold.
– Yes. And you know why.
– I don’t know.
– You do not know?
“I really don’t know.”
I moved away. I couldn’t believe what I heard. It’s one thing to disagree about who was at fault or how things might have turned out, but how can he claim he doesn’t know why I left the country I was born in, the country I fought for and was ready for to die – my homeland? It’s not easy to say. How can he claim not to know why my wife and I took the drastic step of taking our baby and running away to where the pepper grows, leaving behind everything: home, friends, furniture? Seriously?
I looked at the treetops:
– You do not know?!
“Harold… I really don’t know.”
I turned to my dad. He stared at me with an expression that said, “Me neither.” Geez, I thought. Maybe they really don’t know.
Incredible. But maybe it’s true. And if they didn’t know why I left, then maybe they didn’t know anything about me either. Maybe they never really knew me. And, to be honest, maybe I don’t either.
The thought made me feel colder and more alone. But it also inspired me to action. I thought I had to tell them. How to tell them? I can’t. It would take too long. Plus, it’s obvious they’re not in the right mood to listen. Not now, anyway. Not today. So: Dad? Willy? World? Here you go,” introduces Harry, Duke of Sussex, into his life story.
As the Polish publisher writes, the prince “is a husband, father, humanitarian and environmental activist, war veteran and mental health ambassador. He lives in Santa Barbara, California with his family.”
Prince Harry’s 504-page autobiography in Poland has been published by Wydawnictwo Marginesy. It was translated by a group of translators: Miłosz Biedrzycki, Anna Dzierzgowska, Jan Dzierzgowski, Mariusz Gądek and Agnieszka Wyszogrodzka-Gaik.
Book cover and Prince Harry mat. press /Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via AP
Prince Harry wants to support UK charities with a donation from the proceeds from the publication of The Other One. The Duke of Sussex donated $1.5 million to Sentebale, an organization he founded with the Duke of Seeiso as a tribute to their mothers, which supports HIV/AIDS-infected children and youth in Lesotho and Botswana. The author will also donate £300,000 to the non-profit organization WellChild. WellChild, which has been providing royal patronage for fifteen years, tries to ensure that children and young people with chronic diseases receive care at home instead of in hospital.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
