Prince Harry to publish ‘completely truthful’ memoir on ‘the man I have become’

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has signed an agreement to publish a memoir detailing his education, Penguin Random House reported on Monday.

The editor described the memoirs in a statement as “the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses and life lessons that helped shape it.” Profits from the book, slated for release late next year, will be donated to charity.

Harry characterized the memoir as being written from the perspective of “the man I have become”, rather than the royal title in which he was born.

“I have worn many hats over the years, literally and figuratively, and I hope that by telling my story – the ups and downs, the mistakes, the lessons learned – I can help show that little no matter where we’re from, we have more in common than we think, ”said Harry.

The memoir comes amid a seemingly new opening for Harry to discuss his private life, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a public figure.

Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stepped down from their roles as senior royals last year and have since worked on a range of projects.

Harry and Meghan moved to California, where they founded Archewell, a charitable foundation, struck a deal with Netflix, and created an Apple TV + series focused on mental health with Oprah Winfrey. In the series, Harry revealed how his own emotional well-being had been affected for years after the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

He told Winfrey he turned to alcohol and drug abuse to cope with adulthood.

“I was ready to drink, I was ready to take drugs, I was ready to try and do the things that made me feel less like I felt,” he said. “Not because I liked it, but because I was trying to cover something up.”

He and his wife also spoke to Winfrey in a separate interview about their decision to step down from royal duties amid intense media scrutiny that took a toll on their sanity. Meghan explained that the media attacks resulted in suicidal ideation while pregnant with the couple’s first child, Archie.

They both described the lack of support from other royals and ultimately made the choice to put their family’s welfare first. Harry added that the experience had helped him better understand the racist undertones of the attacks on his wife.

Harry explained in his statement on Monday that he was delighted to share the things he has learned over the course of his life and promised that his memoir will be a “firsthand account of my life which is accurate and completely truthful”.

Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle said the publisher was “delighted” to add Harry to their list of authors.

“Prince Harry put to use his extraordinary life experience as a prince, soldier and savvy advocate for social issues, asserting himself as a world leader recognized for his courage and openness,” Dohle added. “It is for this reason that we are delighted to publish her honest and touching story.”