Prince Harry has clinched a lucrative four-book deal – with the second due out only after the Queen has died, according to media reports.
In news sure to alarm Buckingham Palace, industry insiders said the 'tell-all' tome unveiled by Harry earlier this week is only the 'tip of the iceberg'.
Sources said the Duke of Sussex oversaw the bidding and told publishing houses to begin at £18million, with the final figure possibly reaching £29million.
The deal will see a memoir released next year – when it is the Queen's platinum jubilee – with the second book to be held back until after her death.
Harry's memoir will address his time in the royal family, per the release: “Covering his lifetime in the public eye from childhood to the present day, including his dedication to service, the military duty that twice took him to the frontlines of Afghanistan, 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.”
Meghan is to pen a 'wellness' guide
Harry's wife Meghan is to pen a 'wellness' guide as part of the contract with Penguin Random House. The subject and author of the fourth title is unknown.
The prince, 36, 'led' negotiations from Montecito in California, where he and Meghan have bought an £11million mansion on the back of lucrative tie-ups, including with streaming services Netflix and Spotify.
Two publishers flew out from London to see him and others take part in the 'auction' by video call, sources say.
'He conducted negotiations – he had a very 'take it or leave it' attitude,' said an impeccably-placed source in the publishing industry.
His starting price was $25million
'His starting price was $25million (£18million) and the final figure was way north of that, possibly as much as $35-40million (£25-29million).
'Those involved were actually very shocked by his approach, which was to look at them coldly and state his demands – $25million.
'In Britain, publishing is still a rather 'gentlemanly' industry. It's high stakes, but is still conducted in very genteel terms.'
Four-book deal, with Harry writing one 'when his granny dies'
The source added: 'The final contract was actually for a four-book deal, with Harry writing one 'when his granny dies'. Meghan will write a wellness-type book and people are unsure what the fourth will be. But what is most shocking, frankly, is Harry's suggestion that the second book won't be published until the Queen is no longer here.
'People [will] start asking 'what has he got, who is he going to target?' The very idea of this unexploded bomb, hanging about waiting for the Queen to pass, is just extraordinary and may strike many as being in very bad taste.'
Royal Family deeply concerned
The Royal Family has been left deeply concerned by Harry's decision to secretly collaborate with Pulitzer-winning ghostwriter JR Moehringer on what his publishers described as 'the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him'. The two men have been working on the book for up to a year.
It is described by Harry as a 'wholly truthful first-hand account' of his life. But royal aides are worried that it will prove to be a highly one-sided account of the prince's experiences and reignite tensions with his estranged family.
The Queen and senior royals are still dealing with the fallout from his slew of interviews, most notably with US chat show host Oprah Winfrey. The prince has made a string of highly damaging allegations about his closest relatives, including claims of institutional racism.
The news that not only is there a second book planned, but it is one that Harry was said to have stipulated should not come out until after his 95-year-old grandmother passes away, will do little to allay fears about the nature of his 'revelations'.
It suggests that the Queen would disapprove of what the sixth in line to the throne is doing and anything published might upset her and the rest of the Royal Family, or prove to be reputationally damaging, whether it is true or not. It also appears to indicate that Harry cares far less about anything his father Prince Charles or brother Prince William, whom he has been most critical of, think.
The fact that Harry and Meghan, 39, are set to publish more than one book was not referred to in the official announcement about his memoir earlier this week.
This raises the unedifying prospect of the Windsors being 'under siege' from the Sussexes and their 'truths' for many years to come.
Not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become
In a statement, Harry explained of the memoir: “I’m writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become. I’ve worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively, and my hope is that in telling my story—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.”
In news sure to alarm Buckingham Palace, industry insiders said the 'tell-all' tome unveiled by Harry earlier this week is only the 'tip of the iceberg'.
Sources said the Duke of Sussex oversaw the bidding and told publishing houses to begin at £18million, with the final figure possibly reaching £29million.
The deal will see a memoir released next year – when it is the Queen's platinum jubilee – with the second book to be held back until after her death.
Harry's memoir will address his time in the royal family, per the release: “Covering his lifetime in the public eye from childhood to the present day, including his dedication to service, the military duty that twice took him to the frontlines of Afghanistan, 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.”
Meghan is to pen a 'wellness' guide
Harry's wife Meghan is to pen a 'wellness' guide as part of the contract with Penguin Random House. The subject and author of the fourth title is unknown.
The prince, 36, 'led' negotiations from Montecito in California, where he and Meghan have bought an £11million mansion on the back of lucrative tie-ups, including with streaming services Netflix and Spotify.
Two publishers flew out from London to see him and others take part in the 'auction' by video call, sources say.
'He conducted negotiations – he had a very 'take it or leave it' attitude,' said an impeccably-placed source in the publishing industry.
His starting price was $25million
'His starting price was $25million (£18million) and the final figure was way north of that, possibly as much as $35-40million (£25-29million).
'Those involved were actually very shocked by his approach, which was to look at them coldly and state his demands – $25million.
'In Britain, publishing is still a rather 'gentlemanly' industry. It's high stakes, but is still conducted in very genteel terms.'
Four-book deal, with Harry writing one 'when his granny dies'
The source added: 'The final contract was actually for a four-book deal, with Harry writing one 'when his granny dies'. Meghan will write a wellness-type book and people are unsure what the fourth will be. But what is most shocking, frankly, is Harry's suggestion that the second book won't be published until the Queen is no longer here.
'People [will] start asking 'what has he got, who is he going to target?' The very idea of this unexploded bomb, hanging about waiting for the Queen to pass, is just extraordinary and may strike many as being in very bad taste.'
Royal Family deeply concerned
The Royal Family has been left deeply concerned by Harry's decision to secretly collaborate with Pulitzer-winning ghostwriter JR Moehringer on what his publishers described as 'the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him'. The two men have been working on the book for up to a year.
It is described by Harry as a 'wholly truthful first-hand account' of his life. But royal aides are worried that it will prove to be a highly one-sided account of the prince's experiences and reignite tensions with his estranged family.
The Queen and senior royals are still dealing with the fallout from his slew of interviews, most notably with US chat show host Oprah Winfrey. The prince has made a string of highly damaging allegations about his closest relatives, including claims of institutional racism.
The news that not only is there a second book planned, but it is one that Harry was said to have stipulated should not come out until after his 95-year-old grandmother passes away, will do little to allay fears about the nature of his 'revelations'.
It suggests that the Queen would disapprove of what the sixth in line to the throne is doing and anything published might upset her and the rest of the Royal Family, or prove to be reputationally damaging, whether it is true or not. It also appears to indicate that Harry cares far less about anything his father Prince Charles or brother Prince William, whom he has been most critical of, think.
The fact that Harry and Meghan, 39, are set to publish more than one book was not referred to in the official announcement about his memoir earlier this week.
This raises the unedifying prospect of the Windsors being 'under siege' from the Sussexes and their 'truths' for many years to come.
Not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become
In a statement, Harry explained of the memoir: “I’m writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become. I’ve worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively, and my hope is that in telling my story—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.”
