Fans have waited in line to purchase a hardback copy of Prince Harry’s autobiography as it hit shelves at midnight in bookstores nationwide.

Shops opened at 12am this morning for the official release of the Duke of Sussex‘s controversial memoir Spare – which has made headlines across the world with bombshell revelations about the Royal Family and was leaked and sold early by some booksellers in Spain.

A handful of people waited outside the doors of WHSmith in London’s Victoria station to be one of the first to buy a copy of the book – surrounded by a crowd of photographers, camera operators and reporters.

The first customers were handed copies of the memoir after they were freshly unwrapped from sealed black packaging as photographers captured the moment.

Staff then proceeded to put half-price stickers onto copies and unloaded them onto specially designed shelving units near the front of the shop.

Sarah Nakana, 46, was first to the till to buy her half-price copy at just gone midnight, describing Prince Harry’s decision to write the book and tell his story as “incredibly courageous and brave”.

She said: “I’m excited to hear from Prince Harry about his life in his words.

Prince Harry may have rowed back on his racism claim – but the damage is done and race now affects the lens through which the Royal Family are viewed

Prince Harry ‘stunned’ when royals allowed his security to be removed – and says Queen ‘sad but not surprised’ when they stepped back

‘I have a spare Spare’: Readers get Prince Harry memoir days early – with one sent two copies

“He has created a historical record of his life. He lived it. Only he knows what he endured and went through.

“I know for sure the UK media sensationalised some of the bits that make him look in the worst light and sell them the most papers.”

It was Chris Imafidon who was handed the first copy as they were cut from the black plastic packaging.

“I really want to hear from the horse’s mouth. I want to know why the young man left the country he loved and was ready to die for.”

Read more:
Flack’s ex-agent hits out at Harry for repeating ‘long forgotten slurs’
The biggest revelations from Harry’s memoir
Afghans call for Prince Harry to be ‘put on trial’

Two 20-year-old friends, Ben Vu and Leigh Harper, also bought copies but had differing views.

“With some of the more personal things he says, I think he should maybe try to fix things with his family rather than air it in the media,” Leigh said.

But Ben said he felt the prince had “the right to say what he wants and there shouldn’t be censorship towards it”.

“I’m super excited. There’s a huge amount of hype about it.”

Also in the queue was Sasha Pursell, a 27-year-old bartender, who has moved to London from Melbourne.

Waiting outside the shop, she said: “I’m just intrigued. I’ve heard so much press about the book and it’s also just a bit exciting – I’ve never been to a midnight release.

“I just thought: ‘You know what, I’ve just finished work. It will be a bit of fun to go over and buy the book that I want to read.”

Related posts:

Man who said ‘he could not breathe’ after being restrained was unlawfully killed, coroner rules Captain Sir Tom Moore: ‘His greatest legacy will be the hope he brought’ Dina Asher-Smith fails to make Olympic 100m final but teammate Daryll Neita through CCTV released of suspect after man, 61, killed in Birmingham hit-and-run Prince Andrew to give evidence under oath next month in civil sex assault case England lose to Scotland as Wales thrashed by Ireland in Six Nations Charles ‘deeply conscious of the honour’ for ‘darling’ wife to be Queen Camilla Government blocks Chinese tech deal on national security grounds Time for rethink on farming poultry as experts warn bird flu has slipped ‘through our fingers’ Harry and Meghan documentary will be ‘real watershed moment’ for couple Five-year-old in Belfast is ninth child to die after contracting Strep A infection Find out how many severe Strep A infections and scarlet fever cases are in your area