Monarchy has used PR spin for centuries

The family are united in wanting publicity on their own terms

- JASON BEATTIE

PRINCE Harry understands the value of publicity. He’s also very good at it.

Any author with a book to sell is keen to generate attention but Harry’s promotion of Spare has been a PR masterstroke.

The stage was set with the Netflix documentary. Excitement was generated by the strict pre-publication embargo, conveniently broken when a journalist got their hands on a Spanish edition.

Then came prime-time TV interviews in the US and UK.

We should not be surprised the Prince is so media savvy.

This is what the royals have done for centuries.

The Prince will argue that his intentions are honourable, that he wants to set the record straight, but in the end he’s still trading on the royals’ most valuable commodity: their exclusivity.