Spare

Names hold symbolic value in Spare, representing Prince Harry’s evolving sense of self and his relationships with other people. As he grapples with forming an identity beyond “Prince Harry” or the “Spare,” he’s given different names. At boarding school, his best friend Henners calls him “Haz,” indicating their close bond. On the Australian farm, George renames Harry “Spike,” a reference to the prince’s unruly hair. Prince Harry likes the name because it’s irreverent and connotes a more unfettered existence, free of royal protocol. For this reason, he’s also known as Spike in Africa, where he experiences a similar sense of freedom. In Afghanistan, Prince Harry goes by the radio call sign “Widow Six Seven,” a codename he can “truly hide behind” (139). For the first time in his life, Harry experiences anonymity, as others communicate with him on the airwaves without knowing he’s a prince.

In his memoir, Prince Harry rarely calls other people by their full names. Nicknames often signify intimacy and affection, such as “Henners,” “Billy the Rock,” “Chels,” and “Megs.” Notably, while Harry refers to Prince Charles and Prince William as “Pa” and “Willy” throughout his memoir, they address him more formally, as “Harold.” The difference in register suggests an easy affection on Harry’s part that isn’t returned.

Conversely, Harry sometimes uses nicknames to indicate his dislike or contempt for certain people. In the early stages of his memoir, Camilla is referred to as “the Other Woman” (39), reflecting his inability to accept her as his father’s life partner. Meanwhile, News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks becomes “Rehabber Kooks,” two members of the paparazzi are “Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber,” and the Queen’s courtiers are “the Bee,” “the Wasp,” and “the Fly.” By not acknowledging their real names, Prince Harry signals his disrespect for these individuals.