Handful of die hard Prince Harry fans queue for first copies of Spare as it hits shelves

Dedicated fans were seen queuing out on the streets to buy a hardback copy of Prince Harry's autobiography on Tuesday morning as it hit shelves at midnight.

Bookshops across the country reopened at 12am on Tuesday for the long-awaited release of the Duke of Sussex's controversial memoir Spare, which was leaked and also sold early by some book shops in Spain last week.

A handful of people could be seen waiting outside WH Smith in London's Victoria station as midnight approached in the hopes of being first to buy a copy of the book.

Gathered reporters and customers then crowded around stacks of the book piled on a table after staff opened the doors, with photographers also on hand to capture the moment avid readers bought the first copies.

Professor Chris Imafidon said he wanted to hear the story “from (the) horse’s mouth” (PA)

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

Telling the PA news agency that he had been waiting in Victoria station since about 9.30pm to get his hands on a copy, he said: “I’m more of a fan of the royal family than the individuals because the royal family have done more work for me and my charity than any political office holder.”

The professor added that he was “dazed” by reports of how much detail Harry had shared about private family moments, as he didn't believe he would "need" to include this to sell copies of the book.

People could be seen gathered around hardback copies of the book for a midnight opening at the London Victoria WH Smith (PA)

"Why would you go to that distance?”, he said.

He also admitted a curiosity about Harry's decision to leave the United Kingdom in 2020, saying: “I really want to know why the young man would leave the country he loved, he lived in and was ready to die for.”

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

The contents of Spare were leaked early last week, while some shops in Spain sold it early (PA)

Waiting outside the shop after finishing work, Ms Pursell told PA: “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."

Asked about the criticism surrounding the book, she admitted its revelation could be viewed as a “betrayal to the Royal Family" but also felt that "a lot of lies have been spewed about him".

“It can go both ways. I don’t think either party is in the right or the wrong.”, she added.