Prince Harry book Spare: UK royals Charles, William, Kate appear for first time since book published

Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, arrive to officially open the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital, in Liverpool, England on Thursday. Photo / via AP

Members of the British royal family have appeared in public for the first time since the publication of Prince Harry’s explosive memoir, touring charities and a hospital as they got on with the task of being working royals.

Prince William and Kate were smiling and relaxed as they arrived at Royal Liverpool University Hospital in the home city of The Beatles, but they were confronted by a man outside the media area in blustery conditions who appeared to say: “Do you ever plan to comment on Harry’s book, sir?”

The couple ignored the question and soldiered on, touring the critical care ward, meeting nurses and posing for selfies.

Kate and William defiantly shook off Harry’s allegations as they laughed in the back seat of their Range Rover, The Sun reported.

King Charles III, meanwhile, travelled to Scotland to meet with local groups that help combat rural isolation.

After “Scotland The Brave” rang out on the pipes, Charles toured the Mid-Deeside Community Shed, near Aboyne in Aberdeenshire, and watched craft skills including wood and stone carving in action.

King Charles arrives to visit the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed to meet with local hardship support groups and tour the new facilities, in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on Thursday. Photo / via AP

Harry’s book Spare offers myriad revelations and accusations, many of which have been splashed across the global media for days. In the ghostwritten memoir Harry, 38, recounts his grief at the death of his mother, Princess Diana, a fight with brother Prince William and his unease with the role of royal “spare” in the shadow of his elder sibling, who is heir to the UK throne.

In a series of interviews, Harry repeatedly blamed the media for his troubles, saying that unfair and intrusive coverage contributed to the rift with William.

He also accuses members of the royal family of leaking stories to the media to burnish their own reputations.

And people are snapping the memoir up.

Penguin Random House announced on Wednesday that first-day sales topped 1.4 million copies. By contrast, Michelle Obama’s blockbuster, Becoming, needed a week to reach 1.4 million when it was released in 2018.

The sales figures for Spare include hardcover, audiobook and e-book editions sold in the US, Canada and the United Kingdom. - AP