Linghams owner reveals her thoughts on Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare'

The book gives a detailed account of Harry's rift with his family, his decision to leave his royal role in 2020 and how he felt growing up without his mother, Princess Diana.

His autobiography was confirmed yesterday to be the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever, recording figures of 400,000 copies so far across hardback, eBook and audio formats on its first day of publication.

Owner of Linghams Bookshop in Heswall, Sue Porter, spoke to the Globe about her thoughts and opinions on the book.

She said: “I genuinely feel sorry for this guy and there are several reasons for that.

“Reading the book, watching the documentary and his interviews, there’s a real deep-rooted sadness through the whole thing.

“He was deeply traumatised by the death of his mother. He said he has no memories whatsoever prior to the death of his mother, it’s obviously PTSD, which has affected the rest of his life as far as I’m concerned.”

Sue went on to discuss reading about his relationships with his father, King Charles III and his brother William, Princes of Wales.

She said: “His relationship with his dad, even though it is very loving, is deeply estranged. There is a distance there.

“His relationship with William I found had a lot of sibling rivalry even down to William’s wedding and there are a few shockers there.”

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Throughout the book, Harry talks about the paparazzi and the effects it has had on him, his family and how it also affected his mum, Princess Diana.

Sue added: “People say he lives a beautiful life, but he lived in a gilded cage.

“From years ago, he talks about Tweedledum and Tweedledumber and how they are aggressive and how they jump out behind cars.

“That is all in the past, but from his interviews now, there is still press intrusion. It certainly grabbed my heartstrings.”

Harry reveals many secrets about himself, which include using drugs, specifically weed and cocaine, and also losing his virginity to an older woman.

You can pick up the book in Linghams, Heswall (Image: Sue Porter)

Sue said: “I felt a little bit uncomfortable reading it if I’m honest, I was thinking ‘why are you telling us this?’ but I didn’t feel like he needed to put it in.

“Talking about the drugs as well, it was oversharing, and I thought ‘Harry why are you doing this?’.”

'I think he needs help'

Looking to the future, Sue explained that she thinks Harry is still suffering the loss of his mother and needs help.

She said: “Somebody needs to step up to the mark, get hold of him and say stop now, you’ve done enough.

“I think he needs help; I genuinely think he needs someone somewhere to help him.

“He is airing a lot of information that really shouldn’t be for the general public’s eyes, but blood is thicker than water and there is always hope.

“It’s a fascinating tale, and you do see the other side, but it definitely comes across as a gilded cage and my god he is grieving his mum.”

Linghams can be found at 248 Telegraph Rd, Heswall, Wirral CH60 7SG