Midnight queues as Prince Harry’s memoir hits the shelves – here’s why people are buying it

Fans have waited in line to purchase a hardback copy of Prince Harry’s autobiography as it hit shelves at midnight in bookstores nationwide.

Shops opened at 12am this morning for the official release of the Duke of Sussex‘s controversial memoir Spare – which has made headlines across the world with bombshell revelations about the Royal Family and was leaked and sold early by some booksellers in Spain.

A handful of people waited outside the doors of WHSmith in London’s Victoria station to be one of the first to buy a copy of the book – surrounded by a crowd of photographers, camera operators and reporters.

The first customers were handed copies of the memoir after they were freshly unwrapped from sealed black packaging as photographers captured the moment.

Staff then proceeded to put half-price stickers onto copies and unloaded them onto specially designed shelving units near the front of the shop.

Sarah Nakana, 46, was first to the till to buy her copy at just gone midnight, describing Prince Harry’s decision to write the book and tell his story as “incredibly courageous and brave”.

She said: “I’m excited to hear from Prince Harry about his life in his words.

“He has created a historical record of his life. He lived it. Only he knows what he endured and went through.

“I know for sure the UK media sensationalised some of the bits that make him look in the worst light and sell them the most papers.”

It was Chris Imafidon who was handed the first copy as the books were cut from the packaging.

“I really want to hear from the horse’s mouth. I want to know why the young man left the country he loved and was ready to die for.”

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Two 20-year-old friends, Ben Vu and Leigh Harper, also bought copies but had differing views.

“With some of the more personal things he says, I think he should maybe try to fix things with his family rather than air it in the media,” Leigh said.

But Ben said he felt the prince had “the right to say what he wants and there shouldn’t be censorship towards it”.

“I’m super excited. There’s a huge amount of hype about it.”

Also in the queue was Sasha Pursell, a 27-year-old bartender, who has moved to London from Melbourne.

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Waiting outside the shop, she said: “I’m just intrigued. I’ve heard so much press about the book and it’s also just a bit exciting – I’ve never been to a midnight release.

“I just thought: ‘You know what, I’ve just finished work. It will be a bit of fun to go over and buy the book that I want to read.”