Prince Harry book leaks let papers have their cake and eat it

Spanish bookshops breaking embargo and leak to the Guardian undo secrecy plans but won't harm Spare publication

If Prince Harry's publishers had their way, it seems the world would only learn about the contents of his autobiography when the book goes on sale next Tuesday.

Instead, a leak to the Guardian and premature sales by Spanish bookstores have resulted in a flood of media coverage before a copy of Spare has even been sold in the UK or the US. Details of events including the prince losing his virginity behind a pub, him asking his father, King Charles, not to remarry, and his final visit to Queen Elizabeth II have been revealed.