by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Random House, 2023. 410 pages. Biography
As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered how the lives of the two young princes would play out from that point on. For Harry, this is that story at last. Before losing his mother, Harry was known as the carefree Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything: he struggled at school, and struggled to accept life in the spotlight. Enrolling in the British Army gave him structure, but he soon suffered from post-traumatic stress and crippling panic attacks. The world was swept away by his cinematic romance with Meghan and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. For the first time, Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty.
I know I kinda missed the trend with this one; it was really big when it first came out, and then slipped into quiet obscurity. However, maybe it worked out okay to read this when I did, precisely because I could view it more objectively without the hubbub. I enjoyed learning the behind-the-scenes peek at the British Royal Family and their relationship with the press, and my heart broke to hear of how Harry and Meghan were treated. Harry speaks with candor and honesty, giving an honest and raw look at his life thus far. What this was missing was a true purpose: Harry doesn't seem to have a clear call to action or any goal for this work. Instead, it just seems to be him telling his story and what things were like for him. But I suppose that's fine, isn't it.