Prince Harry’s four-book deal with Penguin Random House seemed like a golden opportunity at the time, but in hindsight, it has aged about as gracefully as milk left out in the midday sun.
The contract, reportedly worth a jaw-dropping $40 million, saw Harry pocketing $20 million upfront for Spare—his tell-all memoir that made headlines as the fastest-selling memoir in history. However, two years have passed, and the literary world is still waiting for the other three books promised under the deal.
The agreement was rumored to include a book on leadership and charity work, a wellness guide co-authored with Meghan Markle (because who wouldn’t want unsolicited life advice from her?), and a mystery title that remains just that—a mystery. Yet here we are, years later, with no updates, no manuscripts, and no clarity on what, if anything, is in the pipeline. PR teams are reportedly wringing their hands, wondering if Harry and Meghan simply took the money and ran, leaving the publisher in an uncomfortable limbo.
Let’s revisit Spare, the cornerstone of this deal. Yes, it broke records on day one, selling an impressive 1.4 million copies. But was it truly the runaway success it was hyped up to be? Reports suggest otherwise. Supermarkets quickly relegated Spare to bargain bins, marking it down to 55% off within weeks of its release. Some stores even refused donations of the book because they were already overwhelmed with unsold copies. To add insult to injury, Spare earned the dubious distinction of being the most returned book of 2023. The paperback edition fared no better, sinking faster than Harry’s fleeting polo career.
For all its initial fanfare, Spare became a symbol of diminishing public interest. Royal experts have since speculated that the four-book deal may not have been as concrete as initially reported. It’s possible that Penguin Random House approached it as a “let’s test the waters” arrangement: publish one book, gauge its success, and proceed accordingly. After all, no publisher shells out millions without ensuring the author can deliver. And so far, Harry hasn’t.
So, why hasn’t Harry delivered? For one, writing takes effort, and Harry isn’t exactly renowned for his diligence. The content of Spare already felt exhaustive—what more is there to say? He aired nearly every grievance and family drama in that memoir, leaving little material for a follow-up. A second memoir would likely be a redundant rehash, and with public interest waning, most people seem to agree that they’ve heard enough.
As for Meghan’s rumored wellness guide? Don’t hold your breath—unless it’s humorously titled How to Alienate Your Family in Ten Easy Steps. Speculation suggests the project is unlikely to see the light of day, given the lack of public appetite for advice from the Sussexes. Some theorists even suggest that Meghan might be holding out for a more lucrative opportunity—perhaps a tell-all divorce memoir, packed with scandalous details about the Sussex saga, free from the need to share profits with Harry.
Meanwhile, Penguin Random House is left with a contract that feels more like a one-book ordeal than a four-book deal. The publisher would arguably be well within its rights to demand a refund, as the Sussexes show no signs of fulfilling their obligations. What was supposed to be a high-profile literary partnership now seems more like a cautionary tale for publishers.
As for Harry and Meghan, they continue to navigate life in the public eye with a mix of controversy and chaos, leaving a trail of unmet promises and fractured relationships. Perhaps Penguin Random House and other publishers will think twice in the future before investing millions in individuals whose main skillset appears to be airing grievances. For now, the saga of the Sussexes’ book deal remains as unresolved as the mystery book they never wrote.
