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Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, leaves after paying his respects at Westminster Hall, at the...

The Title Of Prince Harry’s New Memoir Is Shocking

“His words. His story” And his 👀 book title.

DANNY LAWSON/AFP/Getty Images

It’s been over a year since Prince Harry first announced he was writing a memoir, and new details about the project have finally emerged. On Oct. 27, Penguin Random House revealed the release date and title for Harry’s upcoming book, as well as the cover art. While the book has long been highly anticipated, the title only raised intrigue into what stories Harry might disclose.

The memoir is called Spare, and it’s dropping on Jan. 10, 2023. According to a statement on the book’s official website, PrinceHarryMemoir.com, Spare will be “full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.”

One of the stories Harry will recount is his grappling with the sudden death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. “As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling— and how their lives would play out from that point on. For Harry, this is that story at last,” the statement continued.

So, what’s the meaning behind Harry’s book title, Spare? According to The Washington Post, it seems to be a nod to the famous phrase, “the heir and the spare,” which has been used in reference to Harry and his older brother Prince William. William is, of course, the heir to the British monarchy. Though Harry was third in the line of succession at the time of his birth, William’s three children — George, Charlotte, and Louis — have supplanted him. Harry is now fifth in line to the throne.

Harry’s book title received quite a reaction online. “The power of Prince Harry calling his memoir ‘Spare’ is just iconic,” BuzzFeed News celebrity reporter Stephanie Soteriou tweeted.

Bustle senior editor Olivia-Anne Cleary also said, “This book is for every younger sibling who has been called by — and answered to — their older sibling’s name. Add that to the royal/heir factor, and this is what you get.”

Prince Harry’s book’s release date also left some intrigue considering Spare will drop two days after the third anniversary of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announcing their retreat from official royal duties on Jan. 8, 2020. At the time, the couple said they would begin balancing their time between the United Kingdom and North America while working toward becoming financially independent from the royal family.

Hopefully, Spare will offer more of an explanation as to why Harry and Meghan chose to leave their lives as senior royals behind.