David Baddiel, a well-known comedian, has recently taken a sharp jab at Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" while celebrating the success of his own book, "My Family," which has climbed the non-fiction charts.
Baddiel's memoir offers a humorous and candid exploration of his upbringing, touching on sensitive topics like his mother's affair and his father's anger issues. While writing "My Family," Baddiel found himself drawing parallels with Prince Harry. He reflected on how best to present his family stories, aiming to portray them truthfully yet lovingly.
In an interview with Radio Times, Baddiel described his memoir as celebratory, emphasizing the importance of depicting people truthfully as an act of love. In contrast, he criticized Prince Harry for focusing solely on his own perspective, which Baddiel perceives as filled with anger. "I don't think Harry's interested in the truth, only in his truth, which is angry," he remarked. Baddiel also suggested that Prince Harry missed an opportunity to mend fences with his estranged family by not employing humor. He mused about the potential impact of a comedic approach, imagining a sitcom based on the royal family. "My Royal Family the sitcom – wouldn't it be amazing if he did that?" Baddiel pondered.
Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" created a global stir upon its release, revealing behind-the-scenes secrets of royal life. The book attracted widespread criticism, particularly in light of Harry's decision to step down as a working member of the royal family and relocate to California with his wife, Meghan Markle. Recent royal commentators have suggested that Prince Harry is likely furious over the backlash he received following the publication of "Spare." Despite earning a substantial amount of money from the book, Harry faced significant personal criticism for what many saw as airing his family's dirty laundry in the worst possible way.
Rebecca English, the royal editor for the Mail, noted that there's been no sign of a paperback edition of "Spare" 18 months after its release. She speculated that Harry might regret how the book was received but pointed out that he probably doesn't blame himself for the negative reactions. "I don't think he regrets writing it. I know he found the process incredibly cathartic, and I don't think he regrets that," she said on the Palace Confidential podcast. "But yes, of course, he'll regret how it was received. But the blame won't be on himself because I just don't think he has that self-awareness."
Charlotte Griffiths, the editor at large for the Mail on Sunday, echoed these sentiments, stating that Harry would be furious with everyone for not reacting to the book as he'd hoped. "He'll be furious with all of us, with everybody else, for not reacting in the way that he wanted," she said. "You know, what did he expect, honestly?" Griffiths suggested that Harry believed he had every right to share his views and tell his side of the story but was unprepared for the public's negative response. "I think that he thought he had every right to share his views, tell his side of the story, but he just can't bear the way that people reacted to it," she concluded.
Rebecca English also revealed that she contacted Penguin Random House, the publisher of "Spare," to inquire about future plans for the book. However, the publishing house had no announcements to make at the moment.
David Baddiel's critique of Prince Harry's memoir highlights a stark contrast between their approaches to storytelling. While Baddiel embraces humor and honesty as acts of love, he perceives Harry's narrative as one of anger and self-interest. The ongoing backlash against "Spare" and the lack of a paperback edition suggest that the controversy surrounding Prince Harry's revelations is far from over.
