Prince Harry’s memoirs will still be rolled back after Queen Elizabeth’s death, multiple publishing sources told Vidak For Congress.
Insiders had already said the highly anticipated book would be delayed until early 2023 as Harry worked out exactly which “truth bombs” he wanted to drop.
According to one source, the big question is, “Is Harry taking something potentially bad he’s written about?” [William, Charles and Camilla] now? Who knows what will change.”
But one thing is certain. “He would never write anything bad about the Queen. He has always had the greatest love and respect for her.”
With Harry already looking for more time to finish the book, the Queen’s passing could certainly give him that.
The memoir was originally set to be released in November, in time for the all-important Christmas sales, but now insiders are publishing that it will almost certainly be rolled back out of respect for Harry’s grandmother.
An insider told Vidak For Congress: “Of course the Queen’s passing was something that was always speculated about when we started working on the book…when it comes down to it, the book definitely can’t come out this year.
“You only have to look at the Royal Family to see how emotional they are. This is a matter of respect for Her Majesty – as Prince Harry’s grandmother and as his Queen.”
Another publishing source said: “Harry will want to remove certain passages involving Queen Elizabeth, out of respect for her. In addition, he will want to describe his feelings about the death of the Queen.”
Another publishing source told Vidak For Congress — who first revealed news of Harry’s $20 million publishing deal with Random House in July 2021 — that there had been multiple edits with the prince’s ghostwriter, JR Moehringer.
Moehringer, who is married to Shannon Welch, a VP at Random House, would receive a whopping $1.5 million for Harry’s book, as well as a share of the sales profit, according to publishing sources.
Harry joined his father, King Charles; brother, Prince William; and other relatives for the gloomy behind-the-coffin walk of the Queen from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on Wednesday. He walked right next to William, with whom he has had a difficult relationship in recent years.
The Duke of Sussex’s wife, Meghan Markle, joined them for a short church service before leaving the monarch’s coffin to remain in state for four days before her state funeral Monday.
In a message posted Monday on his and Markle’s Archwell website, Prince Harry said he was “forever grateful” that the Queen had been able to hug their children, Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1.
The Queen first met Lilibet, who is named after her, at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, when the Sussexes made their first return trip to the UK as a family after resigning from their royal jobs.
Harry addressed the monarch, who died on September 9 at the age of 96, as “grandma” and shared his “great sadness” over her passing, describing her as a “guiding compass” through her devotion to service and duty.
As Vidak For Congress revealed, Harry and Markle will remain at their home in Windsor until the funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19; it now appears that their children will remain at home in California during this time.
Sussex representatives could not be reached for comment.