Spare: Leaked bombshells won't deter Northern Ireland folk from reading Prince Harry's memoirs

Waterstones appeared to be the only shop selling the book in Belfast city centre and it looked to be proving popular with customers as by lunch time copies had to be taken from the window display to meet demand.

The bookstore itself had declined to comment to the media on sales of the book.

Nuala Lynn from Belfast was one of those who came out specifically to buy ‘Spare’.

She said: “I’ve been looking forward to it. There’s been so many leaks, you sort of think it might be deliberate.

"I think there will be more in the book than what we’ve already heard, I’m hoping there will be.

"There’s two sides to every story. Harry has come in for an awful lot of criticism, I’d rather read it first and then make a judgement.

"He’s been through a lot. He was always the fun one, but that all seemed to change. Maybe he has just felt it’s time to open up about things now he has children of his own and released there’s another way of doing things.”

Beth McKittrick from Bangor was excited about the book’s release: “I couldn’t wait until it came out.

I’ll be into this like a devil tonight.”

She commented: "I don’t think people should gloat on what they read. It’s a family, a family with differences, that’s really all it is.

“I love the royal family. I would never red them up, every family has trouble, it comes to everybody’s door. But I like the gossip."

Beth added: "I don’t blame Harry. He’s without a mother since he was 12. He has wanted to talk for so long but couldn’t because he’s not been allowed.

“Meghan has come into royalty and she doesn’t understand it which is fair enough. She’s done her own thing and it’s encouraged Harry to do his own thing.

"He’s human like everyone else. His stories aren’t any different to a lot of people, it’s just who he is that makes headlines.”

Katie Patterson from Magheralin was in Waterstones to buy two books for her children.

Of Prince Harry’s book she said: "I don’t think it’s something I’d read. I’ve got too many other things to read.

"I’m aware of some of the things in it but to be honest I’m just not that interested.”

Leeann Baine from Dundonald plans to read as much of the book as she can tonight: “I’ve been a bit obsessed with the whole controversy of it. Harry has dug a hole that he’s not going to be able to get out of.

"I know all the juicy bits but I’m still interested enough to buy the book. I’m thinking is there something in there that hasn’t come out yet.”

Heather from Co Antrim had bought a copy to read on their upcoming holiday to Gran Canaria.

She said: "I watched the interview on ITV, I didn’t watch very much of the Netflix programme. I just bought it for some light reading when we’re away.

"I’m just not sure about what he’s been saying. I’m not sure whether he’s telling the truth or it’s a money making racket.

"I do think it was deliberately leaked early in Spain.”

Asked if he’d damaged his relationship with the royal family, Heather said: “He’s said he wants reconciliation but he’ll never have a relationship again with the royal family. This should have been done it private.”

Her husband Trevor said he wouldn’t be touching the book as he did not agree with the mechanics of the monarchy in the UK: “I’m not saying we shouldn’t have a monarchy but I think the monarchy should be self-supporting like a lot of European countries, it shouldn’t be supported by the population here.”

He added: “The royals are an institution. You marry into it. The system says you have to follow the rules it’s run by. Harry doesn’t want that system. He’s out of that system but he wants the money as does his wife Meghan.

"There's enough people who follow the sort of thing they’re doing – the Netflix programmes, the interviews, the memoirs – they’ll do alright out of it.”

Stephanie from the Belfast area said the fact that many parts of the book have already been revealed hasn’t put her off.

She said she couldn’t wait to get stuck in: “I’m planning to read it all tonight if I can. There’s 400-odd pages, but I’ll do my best.”