Prince Harry's memoir may ‘never see light of day’ because he's in last chance saloon with royal family
Prince Harry is working on publishing a book with Penguin Random House, the release of which will have a disastrous impact on his relationship with family members. In addition, former Tatler and Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown has warned that there will be "no way back" for Harry if he signs off on his memoir.
The controversial biography will never "see the light of day," according to Brown, author of ‘The Diana Chronicles and The Palace Papers,’ who was quoted saying to the Telegraph. “They are now in this bind, where they've taken all this money and Harry has made this book deal where he's supposed to spill everything about his horrible life as a royal, but now he's actually tortured about it because he understands there is no way back if he does it,’ she said. “If the book continues, I don't think there is any way for Harry to return. So my view has always been that the book won't see the light of day.” In the summer of 1997, the journalist, who was among the last to see the Princess of Wales alive, said to the Telegraph that she believed Diana would have counseled her son to try to reintegrate into the family.
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The memoir had been approved for publishing in the expected autumn but the Duke - who is writing it as part of a nearly £40 million three-title contract - allegedly wanted to make changes. “Harry has thrown a spanner in the works,” a source said. “He is keen for refinements in the light of the Queen's death, her funeral, and his father Charles taking the throne. There may be things in the book which might not look so good if they come out so soon after these events. He wants sections changed now. It's not a total rewrite by any means. He desperately wants to make changes. But it might be too late,” the source said according to Daily Mail.
Harry is currently working on a new chapter, according to best-selling novelist Jeffrey Archer, that will focus entirely on his grandmother's passing and the circumstances surrounding her funeral. Following criticism that the first manuscript was "too touchy-feely" and overly focused on mental health issues, publishers Penguin Random House had already sought a rewrite, the Daily Mail reported. Although there is no formal release date set, American sources indicate that publishers want it in stores by November 24, the day before Thanksgiving, so that it can capitalize on the lucrative Christmas market. In a statement announcing the global publishing deal, Penguin Random House described it as “an intimate and heartfelt memoir,” promising that “Prince Harry will offer an honest and captivating personal portrait.” However, due to worries that the book will include harmful discoveries, palace staff reportedly discussed ways to prevent Harry from publishing the book completely to Daily Mail. A friend of the King said: “The question inside the Palace is: ‘Can the book be stopped?’ It may be that even Harry can't stop it at this stage but the feeling at the very top is that there's no good that can come of airing grievances in public.’ The Harbottle and Lewis law firm which represents the Royal Family is rumored to have lawyers on call to examine the book when it is published.