Catherine Mayer, a royal analyst and biographer of King Charles, has said that Prince Harry's new memoir 'Spare' could mark 'the beginning of the end of the monarchy'. In an interview with the Observer, she warned that the 'absolutely catastrophic' implications of attacks on the royal family's behaviour are being ignored.
Mayer argued that the book and associated interviews raise fundamental questions about racism, misogyny and wealth within the institution. 'Members of the royal family have become our proxies for anger about racism, misogyny and wealth,' she said, adding that the monarchy 'stands for inequality'.
The biographer claimed that the polarisation around the row is not simply a 'celebrity knockabout story', but a serious matter concerning a significant institution of state with taxpayer funding. She urged that the accusations be considered seriously, predicting they could undermine public consent for the monarchy if not addressed.
Mayer also commented on the prospects for reconciliation, describing them as 'remote' even before the book's release. She suggested King Charles has a strong incentive to initiate a truce, as the fallout risks resurfacing questions about his first marriage and Queen Camilla.
Quoting from Harry's interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, Mayer highlighted the emotional impact of the book, including Harry's recollection of feeling numbness after his mother's death. 'Everyone thought and felt like they knew our mum, and the two closest people to her... were unable to show any emotion in that moment,' Harry said.
