Prince Harry's new autobiography has become the UK's fastest-selling non-fiction book ever, just a day after its release.
After what appears to have been a rather controversial last few days in the wake of the airing of several high-profile interviews with the Duke of Sussex to promote first-ever memoir - which is titled 'Spare', and was released on yesterday (10 January) - according to recording figures, 400,000 copies of the book have been sold so far, The Manc reports.
This is the total number of copies across hardback, ebook, and audio formats on its first day of publication.
Publishers say the success of the book has already 'exceeded' expectations.
"We always knew this book would fly but it is exceeding even our most bullish expectations," admitted Larry Finlay, Managing Director of Transworld Penguin Random House.
"As far as we know, the only books to have sold more in their first day are those starring the other Harry (Potter)."
Prince Harry's memoir Spare becomes UK's fastest-selling non-fiction book ever / Credit: Barnes & Noble | WHSmith
If you have been keeping an eye on the news recently, then you'll probably know that Prince Harry has used the 550-plus pages of Spare to make a series of revelations and headline-dominating claims about the Royal Family - which come after he and his wife Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals in early 2019.
Some of these shocking claims include Price Harry accusing Prince William of physically attacking him and teasing him about his panic attacks, saying King Charles put his own interests above Harry's, and branding Camilla as the "villain" and "dangerous".
The book is also said to be unexpectedly packed with some of Prince Harry's celebrity anecdotes.
The release of Spare comes after millions tuned it to watch as ITV aired a high-profile televised interview with the Duke of Sussex, Harry: The Interview, last Sunday evening.
During the in-depth interview, Prince Harry speaks on everything from his experiences growing up, the death of his mother Princess Diana, and his personal relationships, to how he believes “silence is betrayal” in reference to the alleged failure of Buckingham Palace to defend him and his wife before they stepped down as senior royals and moved to the US.
He also claimed in the interview that, since the moment that moved away, his family have “shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile”.
Prince Harry during an in-depth televised interview with ITV to promote 'Spare' / Credit: ITV
Adding that he feels it “never needed to be this way”, Harry told ITV's Tom Bradby that he believes his family “feel as though it is better to keep us somehow as the villains”.
"I want a family, not an institution," he said in the interview.
Spare by Prince Harry is currently on sale at several book retailers and chains across the UK, and despite having a retail price of £28, many shops - including high street favourites Waterstones and WHSmith - are selling it at half price.
You can also grab at copy of the book for just £14 on Amazon too.
Featured Image - Waterstones
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Pioneering Bradford artist David Hockney has passed away aged 88
David Hockney, one of Britain's most influential and recognisable artists, has sadly died.
Born in Bradford in 1937, David Hockney built a career spanning more than six decades and became one of the most influential figures in contemporary art.
He was best known for his vibrant paintings, from the iconic swimming pools of Los Angeles to the sweeping landscapes of Yorkshire and Normandy.
And of course you can't forget the adorable paintings of his sausage dogs Stanley and Boodgie.
This morning on Friday 12 June, it was sadly announced that David Hockney had passed away - just one month prior of his 89th birthday.
Admired by critics and the public alike, Hockney's work was exhibited around the world and attracted record-breaking prices, cementing his place as one of the defining artists of the modern era.
Most recently, his incredibly immersive exhibition 'Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)' was a hit across the country, proving his work still resonated with the people of today.
His work at Salts Mill has remained in exhibit for years, including his special digital drawings that he did on his iPad.
His death marks the end of a truly extraordinary career, but his influence on British culture and contemporary art will endure for years to come.
A true West Yorkshire icon that will be missed by many from across the globe. RIP David.
Featured image - Publicity photo via Justin Sutcliffe (supplied)
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Ryanair to be investigated for over charging parents to sit with their children
Emily Sergeant
Ryanair is being investigated by the Government’s leading regulator over charging parents to sit with their children.
Currently, Ryanair ’s terms and conditions require at least one parent to sit with their children aged two-11 when they fly, but this is done through what the airline calls a ‘mandatory family seat’, meaning the parent must pay in order for them to secure a seat next to their child.
This fee applies to both outbound and return flights, and typically costs around £8 each way – but for all other passengers, reserving a seat is optional.
And it’s this that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation .
Ryanair is being investigated over charging parents to sit with their children / Credit: Gerrie van der Walt (via Unsplash)
CMA evidence suggests this approach to seating is used across the majority of Ryanair’s UK routes, and the watchdog understands that Ryanair is the only major airline flying out of the UK to impose this charge.
Other airlines offer to seat children with a parent or guardian without the need for a paid-for adult seat reservation, or they allocate seats together automatically during booking for free.
The CMA says it’s investigating, in particular, whether Ryanair’s approach to seat reservations may mean parents are being charged for the airline to meet its child safety and disability‑related obligations as set out under aviation rules.
The watchdog wants to determine whether or not this practice is in line with consumer law, and whether the airline’s contract terms are ‘unfair’ if they put customers at an unfair disadvantage.
Under consumer law, businesses must show a total price that includes all unavoidable charges, rather than adding extra charges separately or later in the process, as this ensures consumers can effectively compare prices and understand the true cost of what they are buying.
“Lots of families save up to afford a summer holiday and we know that extra charges can quickly bump up the price,” commented Hayley Fletcher, who is the Senior Director of Consumer Protection at the CMA.
“Our investigation will consider Ryanair’s approach to family seat reservations and how the cost is presented to consumers to determine whether they comply with consumer law.
“For the past year, we’ve told businesses to ensure their customers are shown the total price upfront – those who don’t face the very real possibility of action from the CMA.”
At present, the CMA is currently at the beginning of its investigation, and has reached no conclusions about whether Ryanair has broken the law.
Emily Sergeant -
11th January 2023 
