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Frenemies: The Prince, the monarchy and the media

What Prince Harry’s controversial new memoir, Spare, reveals about the British monarchy and the media and an inside view of how that relationship works.
A book cover featuring a close-up portrait of Prince harry.
Ahead of its official launch, Prince Harry’s memoir is already an international best-seller thanks in part to a number of explosive interviews. (Random House Canada)

Prince Harry's lifelong discomfort – and even downright hatred – of the press has been a major theme during the publicity tour for his new memoir, Spare. The book has made headlines with allegations about how those closest to the crown use the press for their own ends.

Today we explore the delicate and deeply entwined relationship between the monarchy and the media and hear an inside view about how the system works.

Katie Nicholl is Vanity Fair's royals correspondent and author of The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown.