The Duke of Sussex addressed the response to his memoir Spare and the Netflix documentary in a new interview for GQ's weekly series One More Question. Speaking with host Zach Baron, Harry discussed the impact of his mother Princess Diana's death in a car accident in 1997, when he was 12, and how he has come to terms with her sudden loss.
Reflections on Spare and the Media
Mr Baron noted "there’s a certain vividness and narrative power to the version of it that you experienced, which is—I mean, how many books have been written about this, about your mother and your family?" Referring to his 2023 memoir, Harry replied: "I mean, thousands. I wrote one, but they all wrote thousands."
Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior working royals in early 2020, moving to California to become financially independent. Tensions with the Royal Family have simmered since, with the couple discussing their disputes in media interviews and a Netflix documentary released in late 2022. Spare detailed Harry's alleged conflicts with his elder brother, Prince William, and his unhappiness as a central figure in the Firm, including a description of losing his virginity in a field behind a pub aged 17.
On Telling His Own Story
Asked whether he ever questioned how much he has put into the public domain, Harry said that staying quiet does not stop stories about him being published. He claimed vast numbers of stories written about him over the years are made up, false, poorly sourced, or agenda-driven. He argued that if the media "can’t be responsible enough to tell your story, then you have to tell your own story" — a move he has been criticised for, including in the Netflix documentary.
"And I find it is fascinating because everybody else is allowed to tell their version of my story, but God forbid I should be able to tell the other side of it," he said.
Desire for Reconciliation
The prince also signalled a wish to repair relations with his family, calling reconciliation the "most important thing". Harry and Meghan returned to the UK in late August with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, who enrolled in British schools. The Palace confirmed they remain non-working members of the Royal Family.
