Prince Harry’s book Spare is ‘fastest-selling non-fiction book ever’

Published

2 years ago

January 10, 2023

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The Duke of Sussex’s autobiography is the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever, recording figures of 400,000 copies so far across hardback, ebook and audio formats on its first day of publication.

Larry Finlay, managing director of Transworld Penguin Random House, said; “We always knew this book would fly but it is exceeding even our most bullish expectations.

“As far as we know, the only books to have sold more in their first day are those starring the other Harry (Potter).”

Queues of fans developed before shops opened at 12am Tuesday morning for the official release of the controversial memoir.

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 – 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.

Key revelations in Prince Harry’s book

The duke admits to using cocaine – saying “it wasn’t very fun”
He claims to have killed 25 people in Afghanistan during his two tours of duty
He says he asked his father not to marry Camilla – and his brother made the same request
He describes how King Charles told him Meghan should not go to Balmoral after the Queen’s death
He recalled the moment he found out his mother, Princess Diana, had been in a car accident
He says he lost his virginity to an older woman in a field behind a busy pub
He accuses Prince William of knocking him over during an argument about the Duchess of Sussex

In his first print interview since his autobiography, with US magazine People, the duke maintained that he “would like nothing more” than for his children to have relationships with the royal family.

He said that Archie, three, and 19-month-old Lili did have a connection with some of the Windsors, whom he did not name, saying this brought him “great joy”.

Crowds of photographers, camera operators and reporters captured the moment that the first customers were handed copies of the memoir.

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.”

Other early customers included Professor Chris Imafidon, who purchased three copies, and two 20-year-old friends Ben Vu and Leigh Harper.

Despite having a retail price of £28, many shops, including Waterstones and WHSmith as well as online at Amazon, are selling it half price at £14.

In one bookshop in Swindon called Bert’s Books, Spare was displayed next to author Bella Mackie’s novel How To Kill Your Family in a “light-hearted” nod to his allegations against the Royal Family.

Alex Call, 35, the owner of Bert’s Books, said: “(How To Kill Your Family) was already in our window because it was our bestselling book of 2022.

“Then when we saw it there, we thought it would be quite funny to put it next to Spare and would be quite light-hearted and make a few people smile.”

The Duke of Sussex has used the 550-plus pages of Spare to make headline-dominating claims including accusing William of physically attacking him and teasing him about his panic attacks, saying Charles put his own interests above Harry’s and, in a US broadcast interview, branding Camilla as the “villain” and “dangerous”.

But as a well-connected individual, the book is also packed with celebrity cameos, from the Spice Girls to Courteney Cox.

Entertainment

Quincy Jones, music titan who worked with Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, has died

Published

9 hours ago

November 4, 2024

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Quincy Jones, music titan who worked with Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, has died

Quincy Jones, the music producer and composer, has died at the age of 91.

Jones worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and many other artists.

Among his best-known credits was as the producer of Jackson’s historic Thriller album.

Jones oversaw the all-star recording of the 1985 charity record We Are The World.

He also composed the soundtrack to the hit 1969 British film The Italian Job, starring Michael Caine.

His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed Jones died at his Los Angeles home on Sunday surrounded by his family.

In a statement, his family said: “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’s passing.

“And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

His family added Jones was “truly one of a kind” who they would “miss dearly”.

“We take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created,” they added.

“Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’s heart will beat for eternity.”

His career, which spans more than 75 years, saw him achieve 28 Grammy award wins out of 80 nominations.

He was named one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by Time magazine.

Lionel Richie, who co-wrote We Are The World and was among the charity single’s featured singers, called Jones “the master orchestrator”.

Jones, a father of seven, was married three times to Jeri Caldwell, Ulla Andersson and Peggy Lipton.

His children include music producer Quincy Jones III and actress Rashida Jones, known for Parks And Recreation and the US version of The Office.

Entertainment

Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek shares he has bowel cancer

Published

12 hours ago

November 4, 2024

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Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek shares he has bowel cancer

Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek has said he has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

The 47-year-old American actor – famous for his role as Dawson Leery in the drama series – told US outlet People on Sunday that he has colorectal cancer.

Bowel cancer – sometimes also called colorectal cancer – starts in the colon or the rectum, which makes up the large intestine in the digestive system.

It is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK, with around 42,900 people diagnosed each year.

Speaking to People, Van Der Beek added: “I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.

“There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”

He said he has been prioritising time with his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek and their six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.

The actor – also known for his roles in Don’t Trust The B—- In Apartment 23, CSI: Cyber, and the FX drama Pose – also posted on Instagram about his diagnosis.

Van Der Beek said he planned on “planned on talking about it at length with People magazine at some point soon,” but instead announced the news on Sunday morning “when I was informed that a tabloid was going to run with the news”.

He then added: “I’ve been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialling in my overall health with greater focus than ever before.

“I’m in a good place and feeling strong. It’s been quite the initiation, and I’ll tell you more when I’m ready.”

In December, Van Der Beek will appear in the Fox special The Real Full Monty, which will see male celebrities strip naked to raise awareness for prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer testing and research.

Entertainment

Margot Robbie welcomes first child – reports

Published

1 day ago

November 3, 2024

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Margot Robbie welcomes first child - reports

Margot Robbie has reportedly given birth to her first child.

The Australian actress has welcomed a baby boy with her husband, British actor and film producer Tom Ackerley, according to People magazine.

The couple have not publicly announced the arrival or revealed the baby’s name.

The 34-year-old actress went into labour two weeks ago, shortly before her due date, according to the Mail On Sunday.

Robbie’s pregnancy became public in July, when the couple were pictured on holiday in Italy, followed by several red carpet appearances.

Robbie and Ackerley married in Byron Bay in 2016 after meeting three years previously on the set of World War II drama Suite Francaise.

Prior to becoming a couple, Robbie described herself as the “ultimate single gal” in an interview with Vogue.

She said Ackerley changed all that, and after being friends “for so long,” eventually “it happened”.

The Barbie actress went on to say their relationship “makes so much sense, the way nothing has ever made sense before”.

Robbie and Ackerley founded production company LuckyChap Entertainment in 2014, along with British assistant director Josey McNamara and Australian film producer Sophie Kerr.

Championing female-focused film and TV, it has been involved with movies including Barbie and Saltburn, and the Netflix series Maid.

Sky News has reached out to representatives for Robbie and Ackerley for comment.