🌟🌟🌟🌟 1/2

Surprisingly engrossing, despite its prodigious coverage (and perhaps just a tad too lengthy), I listened to the audio version of this book. Read in Prince Harry’s own voice, which is nicely-toned and expressive, lending to the feel of a warm and intimate chat (albeit with a royally-birthed multi-millionaire).

Spanning each of the decades of the author’s life, including coverage of the poignant and incredibly difficult death of his mother; his subsequent brutal and intensely-weighted battle with the press; Harry’s school days; his time in the military; extensive charity work; travel abroad (primarily to areas of Africa); and past loves; – this is a broad and comprehensive recounting of an active and yet restricted life, infused with some level of alienation from his famous family lodged firmly in place from the very beginning (fallout from the antiquarian succession hierarchy he is irreconcilably linked to).

All that changes however, escalating into a new level of familial dysfunction, as Prince Charles (not too affectionately nicknamed “the Bee”) settles into marriage with his second wife (the “Wasp”), and Prince William (entirely removed from the cuteness implied by his nickname “Willie”) likewise settles with his love Kate (who is mostly initially portrayed as “sweet”, although some later and awkward incidents are recounted, perhaps with more than a hint of spitefulness).

Followed, of course, by Harry, and his introduction to the “love of his life” , Meghan Markle.

A fascinating look at a life plagued with insecurities (the majority seeming unavoidable), it’s hard not to root for Harry, mistreated as he appears to have been, throughout his entire lifetime (abominably so, in fact, when considering the unchecked xenophobic treatment of his new wife.)

I enjoyed this book, and particularly enjoyed this audio rendition.

Informative and entertaining, touching and thoughtful, this book is highly recommended for Royal-watchers everywhere, lovers of “The Crown”, or really, anyone interested in a behind-the-scenes and in-depth look at (high-birth notwithstanding) familial angst, sibling rivalry, and underlying it all, the universally experienced life-long quest for love, acceptance and belonging.

Whatever one’s birth order.