While we non-royals were surprised when Prince Harry revealed he had a personal memoir in the works, it appears his royal family members were already in on the secret.
Earlier this week, Penguin Random House—the publisher behind the book—announced that the Duke of Sussex’s “wholly truthful” memoir is scheduled to be published sometime in 2022.
“I’m writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become,” the 35-year-old said in the statement. “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.”
Now, just days later, People has reported that, according to a spokesperson, the duke “spoke privately” with Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the family about the book’s release. Per the outlet, the father of two did not expect “to obtain permission from Buckingham Palace for the project.” It seems he was simply giving them a heads up so they weren’t blindsided by the news.