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Biographer accuses Meghan of 'brainwashing' Harry
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have denounced a forthcoming royal biography, calling its author's claims a mix of "deranged conspiracy and melodrama." Excerpts published by The Times on Friday allege Queen Camilla told a friend Meghan Markle "brainwashed" Prince Harry, while the Prince and Princess of Wales viewed her as a "threat."
Spokesperson dismisses 'fixation' by author
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan issued a statement on Saturday, accusing biographer Tom Bower of crossing "the line from criticism into fixation." They cited Bower's past remarks, including his assertion that "the monarchy in fact depends on actually obliterating the Sussexes from our state of life," as evidence of his agenda.
"This is someone who has made a career out of constructing ever more elaborate theories about people he does not know and has never met. Those interested in facts will look elsewhere; those seeking deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find him."
Spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Book details rifts with royal family
Bower's book, Betrayal: Power, Deceit And The Fight For The Future Of The Royal Family, revisits tensions between the Sussexes and senior royals, including Prince William and Catherine. The author claims the couple were "alarmed" by Meghan, who allegedly "lamented Harry's unlikely chances of becoming king" and "regretted" the possibility of never being queen.
According to Bower, William fears his brother-next in line to the throne-could "remove all the Sussexes' titles and effectively banish him from Britain."
Media focus on Invictus Games
The book also scrutinizes Harry and Meghan's role in the Invictus Games, a sporting event for military veterans founded by the prince. Bower refers to the 2023 edition as "the Meghan Games," highlighting media coverage of the couple's prominence at the event.
Background and previous works
The Sussexes stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and relocated to the U.S., where they pursued deals with Netflix and Spotify. Bower's earlier book, Revenge: Meghan, Harry, And the War Between the Windsors (2022), similarly explored conflicts within the royal family. The cover of his latest work features a photograph of Harry and Meghan.