AP

UK royals appear for first time after Harry’s book published

Jan 11, 2023, 3:44 PM | Updated: Jan 12, 2023, 8:55 am

Prince William listens to staff during a visit to the Open Door Charity, a charity focused on suppo...

Prince William listens to staff during a visit to the Open Door Charity, a charity focused on supporting young adults across Merseyside with their mental health, using culture and creativity as the catalyst for change in Birkenhead, England, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Super, Pool)

(AP Photo/Jon Super, Pool)


              Prince William listens to staff during a visit to the Open Door Charity, a charity focused on supporting young adults across Merseyside with their mental health, using culture and creativity as the catalyst for change in Birkenhead, England, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Super, Pool)
            
              Britain's Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales visit the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, in Liverpool, England, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (Bruce Adams/Pool Photo via AP)
            
              Britain's Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, arrive to officially open the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital, in Liverpool, England, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
            
              Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, right, waves as she arrives to officially open the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital, in Liverpool, England, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
            
              The plaque unveiled by King Charles III during his visit to the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed to meet with local hardship support groups and tour the new facilities is seen in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.  (Andrew Milligan/Pool Photo via AP)
            
              Britain's King Charles III arrives to visit the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed to meet with local hardship support groups and tour the new facilities, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.  (Andrew Milligan/Pool Photo via AP)
            
              Britain's King Charles III visits the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed to meet with local hardship support groups and tour the new facilities, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.  (Andrew Milligan/Pool Photo via AP)
            
              Britain's King Charles III visits the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed to meet with local hardship support groups and tour the new facilities, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.  (Andrew Milligan/Pool Photo via AP)
            
              Britain's King Charles III visits the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed to meet with local hardship support groups and tour the new facilities, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.  (Andrew Milligan/Pool Photo via AP)
            
              Britain's King Charles III reacts during a visit to the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed to meet with local hardship support groups and tour the new facilities, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.  (Andrew Milligan/Pool Photo via AP)
            
              Britain's King Charles III visits the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed to meet with local hardship support groups and tour the new facilities, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.  (Andrew Milligan/Pool Photo via AP)
            
              Britain's Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, arrive to officially open the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital, in Liverpool, England, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
            
              Britain's King Charles III visits the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed to meet with local hardship support groups and tour the new facilities, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.  (Andrew Milligan/Pool Photo via AP)
            
              Britain's King Charles III, second from right, visits the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed to meet with local hardship support groups and tour the new facilities, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.  (Andrew Milligan/Pool Photo via AP)
            
              Britain's King Charles III visits the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed to meet with local hardship support groups and tour the new facilities, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.  (Andrew Milligan/Pool Photo via AP)
            
              Britain's King Charles III, right, arrives to visit the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed to meet with local hardship support groups and tour the new facilities, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.  (Andrew Milligan/Pool Photo via AP)
            
              Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, right, waves as she arrives to officially open the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital, in Liverpool, England, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
            
              Britain's King Charles III visits the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed to meet with local hardship support groups and tour the new facilities, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.  (Andrew Milligan/Pool Photo via AP)

LONDON (AP) — Members of the U.K. royal family appeared in public Thursday for the first time since the publication of Prince Harry’s explosive memoir, touring charities and a hospital as they got on with the task of being working royals.

Prince William and Kate seemed relaxed as they arrived at Royal Liverpool University Hospital in the home city of The Beatles, but they were confronted by a man outside the media area in blustery conditions who appeared to say: “Do you ever plan to comment on Harry’s book, sir?”

The couple ignored the question and soldiered on, touring the critical care ward, meeting nurses and posing for selfies.

King Charles III, meanwhile, traveled to Scotland to meet with local groups that help combat rural isolation. After “Scotland The Brave” rang out on the pipes, Charles toured the Mid-Deeside Community Shed, near Aboyne in Aberdeenshire, and watched craft skills including wood and stone carving in action.

Harry’s book, “Spare,” offers myriad revelations and accusations, many of which have been splashed across the global media for days. In the ghostwritten memoir Harry, 38, recounts his grief at the death of his mother, Princess Diana, a fight with brother Prince William and his unease with the role of royal “spare” in the shadow of his elder sibling, who is heir to the U.K. throne.

In a series of interviews, Harry repeatedly blamed the media for his troubles, saying that unfair and intrusive coverage contributed to the rift with William. He also accuses members of the royal family of leaking stories to the media to burnish their own reputations.

And people are snapping the memoir up.

Penguin Random House announced Wednesday that first-day sales topped 1.4 million copies. By contrast, Michelle Obama’s blockbuster, “Becoming,” needed a week to reach 1.4 million when it was released in 2018.

The sales figures for “Spare” include hardcover, audiobook and e-book editions sold in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.

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