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| Noor Nanji | Culture reporter |
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| Hello, and welcome to Royal Watch. This week, we learned that Prince Harry’s memoir Spare is going to be published in paperback in October. But if you’re hoping for more salacious details – you might be disappointed. There is no new content in this edition.
Meanwhile, the royal holidays continue. The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children have been with King Charles at Balmoral, which is where members of the Royal Family typically spend their summers. They’ll be joined by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on his first visit to the castle.
Speaking of holidays, Sean is still on his, so I’m guiding you through this week’s royal news again. But he’ll be back next week. | |
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Catherine sighting reassures royal watchers | It’s tradition for the Royal Family to decamp to Balmoral Castle in Scotland over the summer.
King Charles began his holiday there last week and was subsequently joined by his eldest son, Prince William, his wife Catherine, and their three children - George, Charlotte and Louis. |
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 | King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to stay at Balmoral until October. Credit: PA | Their visit to the Royal Deeside estate provided another opportunity to catch a glimpse of Catherine, as she continues her preventative treatment for cancer. |
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|  | Royal fans were delighted to see the Princess of Wales at Wimbledon in July this year. Credit: Getty | Catherine (we know you prefer to call her that) was photographed on her way to church on Sunday.
It was a fleeting picture - but will provide some further reassurance that she is on the mend. |
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First Balmoral visit for Starmer | William and Catherine aren’t the only ones joining the King at Balmoral. The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, will be there this weekend.
He is due to arrive on Saturday and leave on Sunday, like former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last year. |
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 | Keir Starmer was joined by the King when he hosted European leaders at Blenheim Palace in July. Credit: Getty | This is a private visit hosted by the King – as usual, no media or pictures are allowed.
An exception was made last year as the BBC was filming a documentary about the King’s Coronation year.
It’s looking like a sunny weekend, so there will be plenty of opportunities for Starmer to enjoy mucking into the Balmoral lifestyle. | |
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Your Royal Watch | Last week, we asked for your opinions on the controversy about Harry and Meghan’s tour of Colombia. Is it inappropriate now they’ve stepped back from the Royal Family? Or is it a lot of fuss over nothing?
Annie from Dundee, Scotland, disagreed with Harry and Meghan’s tour, saying: “For people who wanted privacy, they certainly court it at every turn.”
Dana in British Columbia, Canada, even called the tour “a ridiculous show of over-the-top, ignorant ostentation by a couple who are forever striving, without success, to be relevant”.
However, some of you supported the tour, which promoted the couple's charity work on internet safety for children. Lyse who is also from British Columbia, Canada, says: “They are trying to do some good in the world just like anyone else. They are more visible because of who they are. I feel that they are doing an amazing job.”
Mel in the US agreed, saying: “I think it’s wonderful they went to Colombia. If it was worthwhile to them, then it was worth it. Keeping children safe on the internet is a worthwhile investment. Kudos to them for the effort.”
For this week’s question, do you think Harry should have updated his memoir, Spare? What recent events would you like to have seen him write about? Please remember to include your name and which country you’re writing from. Send us your thoughts on royalwatch@bbc.co.uk - we love hearing from you! | |
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Harry decides not to tell all | Who can forget Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare? Published in January 2023, it was frank, intimate, and at times completely bonkers.
We got an insight into rows with his brother Prince William, his trauma after the death of his mother Princess Diana – and his resulting hatred of the press. |
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 | Prince Harry’s memoir was translated into 16 languages. Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock | We also learnt how he lost his virginity behind a pub, and got a prolonged description of a frost-bitten penis.
Spare set a Guinness World Record for the fastest selling non-fiction book of all time.
This week, Penguin Random House announced that the book will be published in paperback in October. Paperback releases often contain new chapters, but Harry won’t be adding anything.
It’s been a long time since the hardback release of Spare – there’s been a coronation, and Harry has visited London on a couple of occasions.
The decision not to include new content could point to a thawing of relations with the Royal Family. |
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A piece of royal history | This week we learned that King Charles has chosen celebrated composer Errollyn Wallen as his first Master of the King’s Music. So we thought we’d jump back to when her music featured in the London 2012 Paralympic Games opening ceremony - attended by senior royals.
On this day 12 years ago, Queen Elizabeth II was joined by Prince Edward, his wife Sophie and the newlywed Prince William and Catherine at the ceremony, held at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London. |
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 | Wallen’s music featured twice in the opening ceremony: Principia for choir and orchestra, and Spirit in Motion for soprano and orchestra. |
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