The Guardian was the first to report an extract from the book, where the Duke of Sussex claims that Prince William is said to have physically attacked him after a confrontation in 2019.
Several media houses, including The Sun, are now writing to have obtained the book in Spain. Sky News has also mentioned the sale.
It happens five days before the official sale date.
Royal editor at Hello! magazine, Emily Nash, has published an image that will show the Spanish version of “Spare” for sale in stores.
Copies of Prince Harry’s memoir Spare are already on sale in Spanish bookstores today, five days ahead of the January 10 publication date: ? pic.twitter.com/QF0ilGBrzT
— Emily Nash (@emynash) January 5, 2023
The publisher Penguin Random House is responsible for publishing the autobiography. The tabloid newspaper DailyMail claimed earlier this week that the security surrounding the book should be on a par with JK Rowling’s Harry Potter publications.
I think it’s a PR strategy
Now theories are pouring in as to how the slip could have happened.
Several Twitter users claim in the thread that this is “obviously” a PR strategy to cover up leaks within the team.
“A bit of a strategy. Now they can claim that extracts (of the book, journ.anm) have not been leaked by their team, but rather from already published books,” writes one.
“Thought the same,” replies another.
Royal editor of ITV News, Chris Ship, has also commented on the incident.
“I see the top secret plan to keep Prince Harry’s book, Spare, to himself until Tuesday is going well for Penguin Random House,” he writes on Twitter.
The theories that the leaks are planned are supported by the PR lecturer.
– Without being able to say with certainty, it is most likely a well-thought-out and thoroughly prepared PR strategy, especially since it was so close to the publication date, says Ester Conings Vanvik, lecturer in PR and communication at Kristiania University College.
University lecturer in PR and communication, Ester Conings Vanvik. Photo: Høyskolen Kristiania
She says that leaks are one of the oldest PR tools, because they make both the public and journalists feel like they have access to exclusive information.
– This builds a big “buzz” around the product because everyone likes to know about secrets. So it helps to build momentum and demand for the book even before the actual launch, Coning’s Vanvik explains.
Setting on TV
January 10 is the official date of the book release. In advance, several upcoming TV interviews have been advertised in which the prince responds to criticism about the public settlement.
On Thursday came a new clip from ITV’s interview. There, Prince Harry can be seen answering that “a lot can happen”, when asked if he would participate in the coronation ceremony of King Charles.
In December, the duke couple also came up with a Netflix series where, in six episodes, they tell, among other things, why they chose to leave their royal duties.
