The Royal silence over Prince Harry can’t go on
Even Prince Harry's critics must concede that his memoir Spare has been an enormous success. The book is the UK's fastest-selling nonfiction book ever: 400,000 copies flew off the shelves on its first day. The Duke of Sussex's recent blitzkrieg of high-profile publicity opportunities, on both sides of the Atlantic, leaves little doubt that he is, at least for now, the most famous man in the world.
Not bad for a self-described 'spare'. But there is one group of high-profile people whose thoughts are both eagerly sought and, for the time being, withheld: the Royal Family.
William may feel it is beneath his dignity to sit down with an interviewer to discuss the matter
No living member of 'the Firm' has emerged with any particular credit from Harry's memoir; Charles got off lighter than expected, but Camilla and, especially, William were treated with greater contempt than many might have anticipated pre-publication. Yet there has been no public response to the many allegations contained within the book.
Prince William and Kate opened a hospital in Liverpool yesterday; when they arrived, someone shouted: 'Were you hurt by the comments in Harry's book sir?'. There was no reply. This is no accident: it's unlikely there will be a response any time soon, bar some off-the-record briefings to the papers.
The hope is that, for all the explosion of publicity this week, the long-term impact of Spare will be relatively muted. In other words, the Royal Family have again taken refuge behind their usual motto of 'never complain, never explain.' But is this a sensible, rational strategy in the face of unbearable provocation, or a complacent approach that may yet backfire hideously?
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The continued policy of silence is both undesirable and untenable. At some stage between now and the Coronation in May, a public statement will have to be made.
If not, the fallout from Spare - and the likelihood that Prince Harry will continue to share his views so publicly - risks overshadowing what should be a celebration of Britain's new monarch. The continuing Windsor soap opera is a bad portent for Charles's reign, to say the least. Either there will have to be a focused and clinical rebuttal of the specific charges made against the Royal Family in the memoir, or the Prince of Wales must step forward and offer his own perspective on the matter.
It was probably no coincidence that the first leak from Spare concerned an incident involving William. The Prince of Wales may feel it is beneath his dignity to sit down with an interviewer to discuss the matter of the broken necklace and shattered dog bowl, but he should remember that his father, mother and younger brother - to say nothing of his uncle - have all faced the cameras at one time or another. It is his turn, if it's anyone's.
What William would, or could, say - and to whom - is impossible to say. But an emotive, candid interview, in which he restates his family's love for Harry - and tacitly suggests that his actions are being driven by something other than straight thinking - could be hugely effective. Or, of course, it could prolong this most torrid of narratives beyond any point of return.
It is undeniably a gamble, but Harry has played his full deck of cards.
Perhaps now is the time for the house of Windsor to see if they are holding aces high, or jokers.
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As ever, the Royals could learn much from the example of Her Majesty.