Prince Harry’s autobiography is first and foremost about family. In this case, it just happens to be the British royal family.
All italics are quotations from the Finnish book.
*Everything happened quickly. Really fast. He grabbed me by the collar until my necklace broke, and threw me to the floor. I fell into a dog bowl, which broke and sliced my back on the wounds. I lay there dazed for a moment, then got up and told him to leave.*
Diana’s death traumatised Harry
Instead of shock value, perhaps the most interesting thing about the book is how human and intimate it allows its protagonist and his family to become.
*I missed mom every day.*
*He went to sit on the edge of the bed. He put his hand on my knee. Honey, mom has been in a car accident. — The doctors did try, honey. But unfortunately he didn’t make it. The words have stuck in my mind like darts on a blackboard. That’s exactly what he said, at least I’m sure. He didn’t make it.
*Maybe I didn’t say anything. Instead, I remember with startling clarity that I didn’t cry. Not a single tear. Dad didn’t hug me. When it was usually difficult for him to show his emotions, how could he have expected them to be revealed in such a crisis situation? However, his hand landed on my knee once more and he said: Everything will be alright.*
After that, the 12-year-old boy was left alone for hours in his own bed. Or at least that’s how Harry remembers it. As the book progresses, it becomes clear that Harry didn’t remember anything about those days or years at all, because he pushed them completely into oblivion. The trauma was too deep, and he was only able to deal with it after a long time as an adult, with the help of a therapist.
The depth of the traumatization is also told by how it took Harry years to accept that his mother was indeed dead. The boy was waiting all the time for the hiding mother to come back.
*Maybe it will happen today. After breakfast I said, Perhaps he will return this morning.*
Sensitive moments between father and son
The book shows how the prince has later realized that he suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome due to both his mother’s death and his war experiences. And losing your mother seems to be the deeper trauma of them, which is most obviously made worse by the family’s difficult relationship.
On the other hand, the book also tells about sensitive moments between father and son.
*He always remembered that I didn’t like the dark, so he gently stroked my face until I fell asleep. I have fond memories of his hands on my cheeks, my forehead, and the realization that he was magically gone—and he always thoughtfully left the door ajar.*
When Harry says that he suffers from panic attacks and anxiety as an adult, it is Charles who takes him to the doctor. Based on the book, Charles also seems to have been genuinely sorry for not being able to support his son.
*Once at dinner at Highgrove, father and I had a long talk about what I had been through. I told him the details, story after story. Towards the end of the meal, he stared at his plate and said gently: I miss it, it’s my fault. I should have arranged for you the help you needed years ago.*
Harry gave birth to a baby with gasps of joy
Netflix’s six-part documentary *Harry and Meghan* has already told in advance how Harry blames the palace for leaving them alone in the teeth of the media. The documentary also drew large parts from the chapters in which Harry talks about his relationship with Meghan, their courtship and, among other things, the first meeting of the royal family.
*On our way to the door, Fergie and I leaned over to Meg and whispered quick reminders to her. When the Queen is first met, she is addressed as Your Majesty. After that, just \”ma’am\”. And don’t talk over him under any circumstances, we said, talking over each other.*
No hugging in the royal family either.
*I introduced him to Meg, who stepped forward to hug him, much to my brother’s dismay. He was startled. Willy didn’t usually hug strangers. Meg, on the other hand, hugged most strangers.*
Harry never hugged his grandmother the Queen in his life.
*I would have liked to hug him, although of course I didn’t. That was out of the question. I had never done that and couldn’t think of any circumstances where it would have been allowed.*
In addition, the book tells about other intimate things. Losing my boyhood. Penile frostbite. For example, the birth of the couple’s son Archie is also reported:
*When the contractions started to become more frequent and stronger, a midwife came into the room and tried to give Meg the gas. It was at the end. He looked at the containers, he looked at me, and I saw it slowly dawning on him: good time, the man has pulled everything. Sorry, I said embarrassed.*
The Queen made the best salad dressing
Love is also the driving force in the book. Although it is clear that the family’s relationship will be extremely strained, especially at the point when Harry and Meghan leave the court.
The relationship between brothers in particular could be described with the classic words love-hate. For example, in the famous meeting at Sandringham, where Harry tries one last time to justify his separation to his father and brother. William gets physical again:
*He pounced on me and grabbed my chest. — Now listen, Harold! Listen! I love you! I want you to be happy. The words flew out of my mouth. I love you too… but you are so stubborn… it’s unbelievable!*
The end result, however, is that the brothers are hardly close anymore. This book is unlikely to help the relationship heal. According to Harry, William suffers from brotherly jealousy.
*Something had happened between him and Camilla. I didn’t understand everything because he was talking so fast and he was so agitated. Furious, actually. I found out that the father and Camilla’s staff had fed one or more stories about him and Kate, and also about their children, to the newspapers.*
Losing a mother, sibling jealousy, problems caused by a stepmother. Very classical-sounding themes for a prince’s book.
*Are you interested in the prince’s book? You can discuss the topic until 23:00 on 11 January 2023.*