Everything we know about Prince Harry’s controversial memoir, from royal secrets to the release date and possible fallout

Prince Harry is set to rock the royal status quo with a controversial memoir about his childhood and life as a royal, but the release has been delayed.

Following the Queen’s sudden death on September 8, 2022 members of the royal family are expected to honour an official mourning period lasting seven days after the Queen’s funeral.

They will then slowly return to royal duties and other projects, but it’s understood the release of Harry’s memoir will be pushed back out of respect.

It was previously announced that the book would hit shelves in late 2022, according to a statement from the publisher in July.

“The manuscript has been finished and gone through all of the legal processes. It’s done and out of Harry’s hands,” it read.

“The publishing date has been pushed back once but it is on track for the end of the year.”

Now it’s believed the memoir won’t be released until early 2023, with sources close to the Sussexes suggesting publishing has been put on hold.

There have also been reports that the contents of Harry’s memoir could impact King Charles’ decision to grant his children, Archie and Lilibet, the titles of prince and princess.

This is far from the first time that Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have caused royal upset with their post-exit revelations.

Their TV interview with Oprah Winfrey shook The Firm in 2021, when the couple talked about feeling trapped, tensions they experienced with staff and even a royal family member who made “awkward” comments about unborn son Archie’s skin colour.

Soon after the headline-making television event, Prince Harry and Penguin Random House announced the 37-year-old is working on a memoir.

While much of the book is currently unknown, we’ve dug up all the details you need to know about the controversial project.

What is Prince Harry’s memoir about?

The father of two’s memoir will traverse his time from a young royal living in the United Kingdom to a dad-of-two in Los Angeles.

Harry released a statement that said, “I’m writing this not as the prince I was born, but as the man I have become.”

He also shared how he wore “many hats over the years” and that he wants to tell his side of the story.

It appears he won’t shy from making explosive claims as he addresses “the highs and lows, the mistakes, the lessons learned—I can help show that no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think.”

“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to share what I’ve learned over the course of my life so far and excited for people to read a firsthand account of my life that’s accurate and wholly truthful,” he concluded.

His publisher Penguin Random House released a statement that revealed the memoir is “intimate and heartfelt” and that it’s a “definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons” that shaped Harry.

They also confirmed that the story will discuss his childhood, military service, and the “joy he has found in being a husband and father.”

“Prince Harry will offer an honest and captivating personal portrait, one that shows readers that behind everything they think they know lies an inspiring, courageous and uplifting human story,” the statement continued.

But rumours are swirling that he’ll also use the memoir to set the record straight about a few royal family members.

“Charles has shared his concerns with William and is keen he somehow goes on the record and sticks up for Camilla should the book attack her,” a source told The Sun.

“But as much as William loves his father, he’s unlikely to want to get involved. In all likelihood, he will try and stay neutral.”

Meanwhile, another insider source told Page Six: “There’s a lot of new stories in there about the past that Harry has not spoken about before, about his childhood … there is some content in there that should make his family nervous.”

Did Prince Harry get permission from the Queen?

A source from Penguin Random House told People Magazine the Prince didn’t need to gain permission from the Queen to write the memoir.

When the publication asked Buckingham Palace for their comment, they confirmed, “Any clarification about the book would be a question for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”

How has the royal family reacted to Prince Harry’s memoir?

As expected, Harry’s announcement was highly criticised.

There were claims from royalists that he was “cashing in” on his royal ties and the book is “betraying” the Palace.

However, members of Harry’s family haven’t commented on the memoir.

Some outlets alleged that the royal family were “blindsided” by the news, while others like the BBC reported that he informed them before the project went public.

Veteran royal reporter Robert Jobson told Mailonline, “This is bound to cause mayhem amongst the House of Windsor.”

Did Prince Harry write the book?

It has been reported that Pulitzer Prize winning author, J.R Moehringer, who co-wrote tennis player Andre Agassi’s autobiography, is ghost writing the memoir.

Where will the book’s profits go?

The book’s proceeds are going to charity, according to reports.

When is Prince Harry’s memoir being released?

The project was expected to hit bookshelves in late 2022. But rumours about the memoir failing to meet its original deadline surfaced when it wasn’t included in the publisher’s list of upcoming releases.

A royal insider told The Sun, “If this book’s coming out this year as originally planned, it should be in the publisher’s marketing and promotional list—unless they’re planning a surprise or there’s been a delay.”

However, a spokesperson from Penguin Random House responded by sharing, “We don’t put every book on the list, so there is nothing to be extrapolated from that.”

It was later announced that the book was written and ready to go at the end of July, with a release date set for late 2022, but that has reportedly been pushed to 2023 out of respect for the late Queen.