Prince Harry’s autobiography Spare is UK’s fastest-selling nonfiction book | Prince Harry

Prince Harry’s autobiography has become the UK’s fastest-selling nonfiction book ever, recording figures of 400,000 on its first day on sale.

The controversial memoir Spare has made headlines in the weeks leading up to its publication, finally hitting the shelves on Tuesday. Figures include sales for hardbacks, ebooks and audiobooks.

Larry Finlay, the managing director of Transworld Penguin Random House, said: “We always knew this book would fly but it is exceeding even our most bullish expectations.

“As far as we know, the only books to have sold more in their first day are those starring the other Harry [Potter].”

The tell-all autobiography includes claims that Prince William physically attacked him, as first reported by the Guardian. Harry also accused his father, King Charles, of putting his own interests first.

In his latest TV interview to promote the book, the prince pointed the finger at Camilla, the Queen Consort, over allegations he had been “sacrificed on her personal PR altar”.

Asked on Good Morning America if the couple could return to the royal fold, he said he did not think “it’s ever going to be possible”.

“Even if there is an agreement, or an arrangement between me and my family, there is that third party that is going to do everything they can to make sure that isn’t possible,” he told the host, Michael Strahan, implying he was referring to the media and competing royal press offices. “Not stopping us going back, but making it unsurvivable.”

He said he believed his late mother would be heartbroken over the rift that has developed between him and his brother William. “I think she would be sad … she would be heartbroken.”

Bookshops in the UK opened early on Tuesday but queues were sparse after leaks before of the publication, with industry experts predicting Spare would be one of the bestselling pre-order titles of the past decade.

It is being sold for £14, not the recommended retail price of £28, in places such as Waterstones and WH Smith, as well as on Amazon.

Philip Jones, the editor of the Bookseller, told the PA news agency it is “quite normal” to have a “big hardback” that booksellers think will do well sold at half price by major retailers.

Speaking before the sales announcement, Jones said he believed Waterstones when the retailer said Spare had been one of its biggest pre-order titles of the past decade.

He added: “It is likely to be one of the biggest books of the year in terms of sales and impact.”

Prince Harry’s autobiography has become the UK’s fastest-selling nonfiction book ever, recording figures of 400,000 on its first day on sale.

The controversial memoir Spare has made headlines in the weeks leading up to its publication, finally hitting the shelves on Tuesday. Figures include sales for hardbacks, ebooks and audiobooks.

Larry Finlay, the managing director of Transworld Penguin Random House, said: “We always knew this book would fly but it is exceeding even our most bullish expectations.

“As far as we know, the only books to have sold more in their first day are those starring the other Harry [Potter].”

The tell-all autobiography includes claims that Prince William physically attacked him, as first reported by the Guardian. Harry also accused his father, King Charles, of putting his own interests first.

In his latest TV interview to promote the book, the prince pointed the finger at Camilla, the Queen Consort, over allegations he had been “sacrificed on her personal PR altar”.

Asked on Good Morning America if the couple could return to the royal fold, he said he did not think “it’s ever going to be possible”.

“Even if there is an agreement, or an arrangement between me and my family, there is that third party that is going to do everything they can to make sure that isn’t possible,” he told the host, Michael Strahan, implying he was referring to the media and competing royal press offices. “Not stopping us going back, but making it unsurvivable.”

He said he believed his late mother would be heartbroken over the rift that has developed between him and his brother William. “I think she would be sad … she would be heartbroken.”

Bookshops in the UK opened early on Tuesday but queues were sparse after leaks before of the publication, with industry experts predicting Spare would be one of the bestselling pre-order titles of the past decade.

It is being sold for £14, not the recommended retail price of £28, in places such as Waterstones and WH Smith, as well as on Amazon.

Philip Jones, the editor of the Bookseller, told the PA news agency it is “quite normal” to have a “big hardback” that booksellers think will do well sold at half price by major retailers.

Speaking before the sales announcement, Jones said he believed Waterstones when the retailer said Spare had been one of its biggest pre-order titles of the past decade.

He added: “It is likely to be one of the biggest books of the year in terms of sales and impact.”