SPARE has hit bookshelves in Wellington, and it appeared that Prince Harry’s controversial new book has divided opinion. Episodes from the Prince’s memoirs have grabbed the headlines around the world in recent days.

But on its official publication day on Tuesday, the residents of Wellington weren’t rushing out to grab themselves a copy. 

Bookshop by the Blackdowns, Wellington’s only independent book, store had only had a “couple of enquiries” about the biography, and just one copy on order. 

And interest appeared subdued at WHSmith in the town centre. The store was as busy as a typical day, and stocks of Spare remained plentiful. A poster was pictured in the window advertising the book for half price at £14, and it is understood that sales were in the low single figures during the morning. 

Russel Pearce, a 62-year-old Wellington resident who works with a social care charity, shared his views on the book. 

He told the Wellington Weekly News that “it’s very unfortunate and sad because family matters should be kept personal, but nothing is black and white”. 

One 76-year-old woman, who lives at Nynehead, remarked that “I think it is just so silly really. What he should have done is kept his thoughts to himself or discussed it with his family first.” 

She added: “I think there is much more to it. I feel sorry for him really, and his brother and his dad.”

Her daughter, who lives in Taunton, agreed with her mother’s comments. 

Another female shopper said: “I don’t care about his book. His life is his life, it should be his own business. I won’t be reading it.” 

Spare has provoked strong feelings among the wider public. A YouGov poll revealed that following the publication of the tell-all memoir Harry’s approval ratings sunk to a record low. 

In a poll of 1600 adults Prince Harry had a net rating of minus 38, against an all-time high of plus 70 just six years ago. 

The steep decline has followed a series of shocking revelations by the Duke of Sussex. In an exceptional breach of royal protocol Harry has, through a series of media appearances ahead of the publication of the book, made intimate disclosures about his, and his family's lives.

In the book Harry alleges a 2019 altercation with his brother. According to the account Harry was shoved to the floor by Prince William, his necklace breaking in the process. Harry recalls that he landed on the dog bowl, breaking it, and suffered cuts to his back.

Writing of his experience in the Army, Harry divulges details of his experience in Afghanistan. He claims that during his time in the war-torn country he killed 25 Taliban, a process he described as like removing chess pieces from the board.

The Prince also revealed how he lost his virginity, an occasion he describes as an “inglorious episode with an older woman.”. He recounts how he was ridden like a stallion, after which after which "she’d smacked my rump and sent me to grace".

The title, Spare, refers to Harry’s nickname, a slight he says that was repeated by his own family. Spare in this context, refers to the dynamic between the heir to the throne, and the second in line to the succession – the so-called spare. 

Professor Pauline Maclaran described the role as a “non-position” in comments to the BBC. She went on to say: "There's no clear role apart from shaking hands and being pleasant to people,". And that 'spares' can have a rebellious disposition, which she describes as "second-child syndrome".  

It has been suggested that Harry’s use of the word spare for his book’s title shows he was dissatisfied with his role in the royal family.