Everything to Know About Prince Harry's Upcoming Memoir: 'I'm Writing This Not as the Prince'

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Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince Harry

Prince Harry's forthcoming memoir promises to be an "intimate" and "heartfelt" look into the "experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him."

In July 2021, Penguin Random House announced that the Duke of Sussex was putting his life story — which will cover his childhood in the public eye and his military duty in Afghanistan to becoming a husband to Meghan Markle and father to son Archie, 3, and daughter Lilibet, 1 — into a book.

"I'm writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become," Prince Harry, now 38, said in a 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."

He continued, "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."

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When is Prince Harry's book coming out?

Penguin Random House initially announced that Harry's memoir would be released in late 2022. In October 2022, however, the publisher shared the official release date: January 10, 2023.

Credit: PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE The book jacket of Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare'

What is Prince Harry's memoir called?

Penguin Random House's October 2022 announcement also included the title and cover photo of the book. It's titled Spare, a nod to Prince Harry's former position within the royal family. As the second-born son of then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana, he was often referred to as the spare to the heir Prince William, his older brother. (Currently, the Duke of Sussex is fifth in the line of succession, following Prince William's three children.)

The publisher went on to note that Spare takes "readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother's coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror."

"As Diana, Princess of Wales was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling — and how their lives would play out from that point on," Penguin Random House said.

How much money will Prince Harry make from his memoir?

Proceeds from the book and audiobook are expected to be donated to charity.

During a surprise appearance at an August 2021 polo match benefiting Sentebale in Aspen, Colorado, the Duke of Sussex announced that he has committed $1.5 million of the proceeds from his forthcoming memoir to the charity. Harry co-founded Sentebale in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help children affected by HIV in Africa.

"This is one of several donations I plan to make to charitable organizations, and I'm grateful to be able to give back in this way for the children and communities who gravely need it," he said in a statement.

According to the official website for Spare, Prince Harry will also give £300,000 to WellChild. He has been a patron of the organization that works to support seriously ill children and their families since 2007, and Meghan joined him at the annual awards in 2018 and 2019.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Prince Harry

Did the royal family know about Prince Harry's book?

While Prince Harry did not have to ask his grandmother Queen Elizabeth for permission to write his memoir, he did give the royal family a heads-up.

Harry spoke privately with the royal family regarding the book's publication, a spokesperson told PEOPLE last year. The spokesperson added that Harry would not be expected to obtain permission from Buckingham Palace for the project.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment, telling PEOPLE at the time: "Any clarification about the book would be a question for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex."

Samir Hussein/WireImage Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attending the Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen's Jubilee on June 3.

How will Prince Harry promote the book?

In early January 2023, it was announced that Prince Harry sat down for two interviews that will air on Jan. 8, two days before the memoir's release. Both the British outlet ITV and CBS News' 60 Minutes shared portions of their interviews with the Duke of Sussex.

"It never needed to be this way," Harry told ITV's Tom Bradby in a preview. He went on to refer to "the leaking and the planting" of stories in the British press before telling Bradby, "I want a family, not an institution."

In an interview with Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes, Harry expanded on allegations of "leakings" in the media and how negative stories have affected him and Meghan. He also told Cooper why he's addressing these matters publicly.

"Every single time I tried to do it privately, there have been briefings and leakings and planting of stories against me and my wife," Prince Harry said. "You know, the family motto is 'never complain, never explain' … it's just a motto and it doesn't really … hold."

Have other royals written memoirs?

Prince Harry isn't the first member of the royal family to share his story. Edward, Duke of Windsor — who was Queen Elizabeth's uncle and had been coronated King Edward VIII before abdicating the throne in 1936 so he could marry American Wallis Simpson — produced a ghost-written biography titled A King's Story: The Memoirs of the Duke of Windsor in 1951.

The memoir recalled his royal upbringing and schooling, leading up to falling in love with the American divorcée and ultimately giving up the position as monarch.

Erika Stone/Getty Images Edward, Duke of Windsor

What will Prince Harry write about in the book?

Harry promised a "firsthand account of my life that's accurate and wholly truthful." According to his publishers, the book will cover 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," Penguin Random House said in a statement about the memoir, which is being touted as "the definitive account" of the Duke of Sussex's life.

"Prince Harry has harnessed his extraordinary life experience as a prince, a soldier, and a knowledgeable advocate for social issues, establishing himself as a global leader recognized for his courage and openness. It is for that reason we're excited to publish his honest and moving story," Markus Dohle, CEO of Penguin Random House, said.

Prince Harry and Meghan relocated their family to the Duchess of Sussex's home state of California in 2020 after stepping back from their roles as working royals. Since then, there have been tensions between the couple and members of the royal family. Meghan and Prince Harry spoke about these issues during a March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where they revealed there were "concerns and conversations" about what Archie's skin color would be before he was born as well as claims that Meghan didn't receive the mental health help she needed when she was feeling suicidal. In the same interview, Harry said that father Prince Charles had "stopped taking my calls."

Buckingham Palace responded to the interview with a statement: "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members."

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Prince Harry and Meghan returned to the U.K. together in April 2022 to visit the Queen en route to Harry's Invictus Games in the Netherlands. They returned in June to participate in the monarch's Platinum Jubilee weekend, attending Trooping the Colour and a service of thanksgiving.

However, the couple noticeably didn't publicly cross paths with any of the senior royals, including Harry's father, Prince Charles, and brother, Prince William. (Prince Charles later announced that he had a "very emotional" first meeting with his granddaughter, Lilibet, during the trip.)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in Europe for a series of events with longstanding charities when Queen Elizabeth died on Sept. 8, 2022. They remained in the U.K. to attend services to honor Harry's grandmother, including her state funeral and committal service on Sept. 19 before returning home to California.

In December 2022, the couple's docuseries Harry & Meghan was released on Netflix. The show touched on their tensions with Prince Harry's family, including inside the Sandringham Summit shortly after they announced their decision to step back as working royals.

Harry said, "It was terrifying to have my brother scream and shout at me, and my father say things that simply weren't true and my grandmother quietly sit there and sort of take it all in."