Royal fans are staying up all night reading Prince Harry’s memoir after it finally went on sale at midnight

Royal fans stayed up all night to read Prince Harry’s memoir after it finally went on sale in the UK at midnight – but bookshops are staying quiet this morning after its launch seemed to be something of a wet bang.

Only a small crowd gathered outside WH Smith at Victoria Station in central London as it opened at midnight to sell the first physical copies of the controversial autobiography.

And in the hours that followed, the response on social media was lukewarm, with only a handful of people divulging how they went about getting their hands on a copy.

One wrote: “Got 2 copies of the new Prince Harry spare book! One for me, one for my beloved. Went to WHSmith midnight opening after I finished work. Gonna be up all night reading #HotOffThePress #PrinceHarry #Spare’

The official release of Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, appears to have been something of a wet bang, with minimal fan enthusiasm

Only a small crowd gathered outside WH Smith at Victoria Station in central London as it opened at midnight to sell the first physical copies of the controversial autobiography

Professor Chris Imafidon was the first in line to get his hands on a copy at Euston station

Sarah Nakana, 46, buys the Duke of Sussex’s newly published autobiography at WHSmith’s in Victoria Station

Caroline Lennon, the first customer to buy a copy of Spare, the Duke of Sussex’s newly published autobiography, poses for photographers with her copy of the book as she leaves Waterstone’s Piccadilly, London

Booksellers display copies of ‘Spare’ by Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, at Waterstones’ Piccadilly bookshop on the day of its release in London

Another said: “Just after midnight in the UK and my Kindle #spare has arrived. Let’s go.’

A third added: “I’ve only read 50 pages so far and I’ve laughed and cried. It’s quite an engaging read. I hope everyone reads it for themselves and makes their own judgement.’

Caroline Lennon, who was waiting outside Waterstone’s in Piccadilly in the early hours of the morning, told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme: “I thought there was going to be a queue around the block. But I showed up at 6am and there is no one here, I am alone.”

Most of the book’s most shocking revelations have already been documented, with the Duke of Sussex’s PR blitz, interviews with Tom Bradby and Anderson Cooper, and the leak of a Spanish version of the memoir.

Many claimed there were actually more journalists than customers at Spare’s midnight launches, with those who showed up gathered around piles of the book seated on a table wrapped in sealed black packaging.

Copies were handed out to the first customers while photographers captured the moment before staff began labeling the copies at half price and unloading them onto specially designed shelving units near the front of the store.

Professor Chris Imafidon, chairman of the Epping, Essex charity Excellence in Education, who was first in line to collect three copies, said he wanted to hear the story “from the horse’s mouth”.

Mr Imafidon, who queued outside the shop just before midnight, said he had been waiting at Victoria Station to get his hands on a copy since around 9.30pm.

Mr Imafidon said he was “extremely curious” as to why Harry left the institution, adding: “I’m more of a fan of the Royal Family than individuals because the Royal Family have done more work for me and my charity than anyone Politician incumbent.’

He said he was “dazed” by reports of how detailed the Duke went into private family moments.

‘Why? Why? You don’t need that to sell. You would sell a book if you were Diana’s hat or Diana’s dog or Diana’s…if you are connected to Diana you will still sell. Why would you go that distance?’

“I really want to know firsthand,” he continued, adding that he hopes the book will be in Harry’s first-person voice and not the third person.

“I really want to know why the young man left the country he loved, lived in and was willing to die for by going to war.”

Professor Chris Imafidon will hold three copies of the memoirs during the special midnight launch event for the publication of the memoirs

Press also visited WH Smiths when the book was published and seemed to have more customers

Stores seemed relatively empty when the memoir was released – with more press than customers

Also in the queue was bartender Sasha Pursell, 27, who has moved to London from Melbourne, Australia.

Ms Pursell waited outside the store and said: “I’m just intrigued. I’ve heard so much press about the book and it’s a bit exciting too – I’ve never been to a midnight release.

“I was just like, ‘You know what, I just finished work. It’ll be a bit fun to go over and buy the book I want to read.”

Asked about the criticism surrounding the book, she said: “Yes, it can be seen as a betrayal of the royal family, but at the same time I feel like a lot of lies have been told about him.

“It can go both ways. I don’t think either party is right or wrong.’

Meanwhile, a savvy seller is capitalizing on Harry’s bashing of the royals by selling copies of the book for more than four times the price on eBay.

The suggested retail price is £28, but the retailer has already sold seven copies of Spare and currently has another five in stock – and is slamming them on the auction website for a whopping £117.96.

Amid the cost of living crisis, they are also offering a ‘finance contract’ with 12 monthly payments of £10.50 – totaling £126 per copy.

The Glasgow, Scotland seller is offering free delivery until January 18th.

World of Books says the title is almost sold out – it currently retails for £33.39 – while WH Smith and Amazon Spare are selling for £14 – half the original price.

A buyer collects a copy of the Duke of Sussex’s newly published autobiography from WHSmith’s in Victoria Station

The long-awaited 416-page book is waiting for buyers today, on sale at half price for £14 at Waterstones, WH Smith and on Amazon

The release comes after the Spanish edition of the book En La Sombra (“In the Shadows”) was leaked on February 5, despite ultra-secure precautions and after a series of lengthy interviews.

It was pulled off shelves within hours, but not before the world gained access to its content, which detailed tensions between Harry and other members of the royal family and personal stories about the prince’s life.

The “explosive” pages include allegations of a physical fight with his older brother Prince William at Nottingham Cottage in 2019, as well as another disagreement shortly after the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in 2021. Kate too has come under fire.

The Duke of Sussex describes a standing argument that ended with the Prince of Wales grabbing his collar and throwing him to the ground, smashing a dog bowl with his back.

Harry also includes personal stories, such as admitting to drug use, having a frozen penis at William and Kate’s wedding, and detailing losing his virginity.

Dedicated to his wife Meghan, children Archie and Lilibet, and his late mother Diana, it is available in 16 languages.