Queen Elizabeth anxious over the release of Prince Harry's book
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Queen Elizabeth is understood to be feeling “a lot of anxiety” around the publication of her grandson Prince Harry’s memoir, coming later this year.
Last year Prince Harry revealed he was writing a tell-all book about his life, saying it would be an “accurate and wholly truthful” account of his royal upbringing. The Duke of Sussex said it would be about “the highs and lows, the mistakes, the lessons learned” from his life so far.
The book will come in the wake of a rift between Harry and his wife Meghan, and the rest of the royal family following their controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey last year.
In it, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a number of explosive claims, including allegations of racism and a lack of appropriate mental health support from the rest of the Royal Family.
Prince Harry also claimed his brother Prince William, and father Prince Charles, were “trapped” inside the so-called “Firm”, and by moving away from the royal family he wanted to “break the cycle of pain and suffering.”
Royal commentator and biographer Katie Nicholl has told Closer magazine that the book is causing a lot of concern for Queen Elizabeth, aged 95.
“The book will no doubt be full of more intimate and shocking revelations,” Nicholl said.
“Harry wouldn’t have got a multi-million pound advance without promising some juicy details.
“There’ll be more shocking claims to come, perhaps their biggest yet.
“I’m sure the Queen has a lot of anxiety over that and the royals will be braced for more bombshells.”
Prince Harry’s memoir will be the first of a number of books published by the Duke and Duchess after they signed a lucrative deal with Penguin Random House.
The book is expected to be available later this year, most likely in the Australian spring.
The Queen’s former footman, Paul Burrell, told Closer it was not a good time for such a book to come out.
“This should be a wonderful year for the Queen, and there’s no doubt she’ll be looking forward to the Jubilee enormously,” he said.
“But I’m sure she’s also very aware of what’s in store.
“The year will be bookended by two very difficult events for her.
“In January, we have all the drama surrounding Prince Andrew and, towards the end of the year, we’ll have Harry’s memoir, no doubt with more intimate bombshells.
“I’m sure she’ll be very apprehensive about the year ahead, and other royals – especially William and Kate – will step up to support her more than ever.”