Prince Harry accused by commentator of ‘monetising his grief’

Prince Harry has been accused of “brazenly monetising his grief” with his book deal with Penguin Random House. PR expert and former spin doctor Amanda Platell hit out at the Duke of Sussex after more details about Harry’s memoir were released.In blistering criticism against the California-based Duke, the former press secretary of William Hague compared Prince William and Prince Harry’s different approaches over the past few years to their grief over the untimely loss of their mother.She wrote in the Daily Mail: “Diana was Mummy to them both. The difference is that Harry is brazenly monetising his grief while William carries his silently and with dignity, like his dad, King Charles, and other members of his family.”Ms Platell went on to claim the Duke has “torn apart any relationship he might have still had with his brother and father”.She added: “Instead of embracing his new family and life in California, he is still raking over the past, the eternal victim.”Prince Harry announced he was writing a memoir in July last year.  Prince Harry’s memoir will be released in January (Image: GETTY) Prince Harry is Prince William’s younger brother (Image: GETTY)After months of silence, the book’s publisher shared on Thursday key details including its title, Spare, and release date, January 10.The title, which is on the 416-page book’s front cover is written in white above a close-up portrait of the prince, hints at the “heir and spare” saying.The description of the book released by Penguin Random House revealed the death of Diana and how the Duke has coped with it will be featured.The description read: “It was 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. For Harry, this is that story at last.” READ MORE: Meghan warned King Charles ‘bewildered’ over ‘hurtful’ comments Prince Harry and Prince William famously walked behind the coffin of Diana in 1997 (Image: GETTY)Spare, the publisher added, presents “raw, unflinching honesty” and will be “full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief”.The Duke is donating his proceeds from the book to charity and has already given $1.5million to Sentebale, which he co-founded in 2006 to help vulnerable children in Lesotho living with HIV/AIDS.He has also pledged to donate £300,000 to WellChild, his patronage helping children with life-limiting or severe illnesses being taken care at home.In her piece, Ms Platell drew a comparison between Harry’s memoir and Netflix’s The Crown after it was claimed cameras had been seen filming outside the Alma tunnel in Paris, where Princess Diana lost her life in a car crash in August 1997. DON’T MISS Meghan Markle and Harry wade into politics with new text hotline [LIVEBLOG]’Under no circumstances’ Harry poised to hit back at Palace decision [REPORT]Kirstie Allsopp shares ‘message’ from Prince Harry’s book cover [INSIGHT] Prince Harry’s memoir will be titled Spare (Image: GETTY)Netflix has been releasing The Crown, a dramatisation of events linked to the Royal Family set between 1947 and modern days, since 2016.The fifth season of the show will be released on November 9, while the sixth season is currently being filmed.Earlier this month, the actress playing Diana – Elizabeth Debicki – was spotted on set wearing an outfit similar to the one donned by the late princess the day before she died.The presence of cameras in the area where Princess Diana’s deadly car crash took place suggests content is being filmed for the streaming platform’s hit series.Netflix stated earlier this month The Crown’s season six won’t “depict the crash, contrary to some reports”.In a statement to the New York’s Daily News, the platform added: “It will be scenes covering the lead-up to, and [the] aftermath.”  Prince Harry’s life in pictures (Image: EXPRESS)Since stepping down as a working royal in the spring of 2020, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to create programmes that “inform, elevate, and inspire”.While the Palace is reportedly concerned about the negative effect the dramatisation of events could have on senior royals, the Duke of Sussex did not condemn the show.Speaking with late-night show host James Corden in February last year, the Duke said The Crown is “loosely based on the truth”.He added: “Of course it’s not strictly accurate. It gives you a rough idea about what that lifestyle is, the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else, what can come from that.”Express.co.uk has contacted representatives of the Duke of Sussex for comment.