Is the life of ‘the spare’ really so bad, Harry?

Three cheers for whoever came up with the title of the Duke of Sussex’s upcoming autobiography, Spare. It’s punchy – and it evokes a sense of sadness. Is this how Harry has always felt? Like a disposable spare part?

The 'heir and the spare' describes the first in line to the throne and the 'reserve' monarch. It may sound cruel – and perhaps it is – but as soon as hereditary systems were established, queens and kings recognised that to ensure continuity and stability for their monarchy, it was necessary to have a healthy male heir and one in reserve should the eldest one die – which they often did.

Spares throughout history have struggled to define their role. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing; many have lived intriguing lives. At the end of the 17th century, Prince Philippe of France, the younger brother of Louis XIV, spent his time – God forbid – having fun. He was a major patron of painters, designers, composers and playwrights – and even lived in an openly same-sex relationship. Spares get fame and fortune, without the day-to-day responsibility of being in charge.

Then look at Princess Margaret. The sister of the late Queen led a life many would envy. Craig Brown’s biography of Margaret, Ma’am Darling, claims that she would wake at a respectable 9 a.m. before enjoying breakfast in bed, where she would partake in two hours of 'reading newspapers in bed while listening to the radio and chain-smoking'. If that doesn’t sound appealing enough, she would then lounge in a bath run by her lady-in-waiting. Next, to the dressing table, where she would spend an hour in hair and make-up before slipping into clean clothes. (She could never wear something twice.)

At 12:30 p.m. the princess appeared downstairs for a vodka pick-me-up, before spending the early afternoon tucking into a four-course lunch with the Queen Mother, 'served in an informal manner in silver dishes' alongside half a bottle of wine. Self-destructive? Maybe. Princess Margaret was rarely seen without a drink or cigarette in hand. But the life of a spare doesn’t sound all too bad.

There are also, if desired, opportunities to make your own role. Look at Princess Anne, who was third in line to the throne at birth. She is now known as one of – if notthe – most hard-working members of the royal family. The Princess Royal often logs more than 400 public events a year, overtaking her siblings, and is known for her no-nonsense, straight-talking attitude.

Prince Harry may have a particularly depressing view of his role, but he has never really been a spare, in the historical sense where the back-up was disdained or ignored. He was always popular with a public who thought some of his cheekier tendencies made him far more likeable, and even more relatable, than his brother William. In 2018, Ipsos Mori found him to be the most popular British royal in a poll that spanned 28 countries. 

While Harry’s 'truth' may emerge in his memoir, the real truth is that the only person who's ever viewed him as a spare is himself. For the rest of us, he provided some comic relief against the more traditional backdrop of The Firm. There could be another interpretation of the title of his book, of course: 'going spare' also means becoming very angry or upset.

A version of this article was originally published in The Spectator’s World edition.