Prince Harry’s Memoir Publishers Face Launch-Date Clash With Michelle Obama’s ‘Becoming’ Follow-Up

Prince Harry's tell-all publisher is said to be facing a launch-date clash with Michelle Obama's follow-up book.

The former First Lady of the U.S. previously confirmed a follow-up book to her best-selling autobiography "Becoming." It would reportedly be released at around the same time as Harry's untitled book. Insiders have speculated the clash as the reason why Penguin Random House, the publisher of both books, is yet to announce when the Duke of Sussex's "intimate and heartfelt'" book will go on sale.

Penguin Random House announced in July 2021 that it would bring out Harry's "literary memoir" in late 2022. Meanwhile, some believed that Harry's book could move to October to avoid Michelle's much-awaited "The Light We Carry," which will release on Nov. 15, just in time for Thanksgiving celebration and Christmas. Penguin said the former First Lady's upcoming book would be published in 14 languages with an initial U.S. print run of a total of 2.75 million copies. "Becoming" has sold more than 17 million worldwide.

A source claimed that the perfect release date would ensure Harry's memoir would have a "clear shot" at making it to the New York Times Bestseller List before getting "totally eclipsed" by Michelle's upcoming release.

"I would certainly account for a lot of the uncertainty," sources told the Daily Mail. "Michelle Obama is a phenomenon and her new book is expected to top every bestseller list in the world. She would totally eclipse anything by Harry. It could potentially be quite difficult timing."

Harry's memoir will include stories of his life from childhood to now. It led to speculation that the 37-year-old royal would use the book to unveil more details that could be uncomfortable for the British Royal Family. Harry has been open about his difficulties with the Royal Family, especially in the bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, where he shared the need to break the cycle and bring up his children in a different environment.

Ghostwriter J.R. Moehringer is said to have finished the manuscript, with the book having passed all of its "legal processes." However, nothing has been made public since the initial announcement.