Prince Harry's spokesperson has issued a blistering response to a new biography claiming his wife Meghan Markle "brainwashed" him, denouncing the allegations as a "deranged conspiracy." The explosive claims about the couple, who are estranged from the royal family, emerged from extracts of author Tom Bower's forthcoming book published in The Times.
Controversial Claims in Royal Biography
According to Bower, who has written multiple biographies about the royals, Queen Camilla reportedly told a friend: "Meghan's brainwashed Harry." The author further wrote that Prince William and his wife Kate were allegedly alarmed by Meghan's impact on Harry, viewing her as "a threat rather than an ally."
These assertions appear in Bower's book "Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family," scheduled for release later this month. The biography also suggests Harry feared Prince Charles might effectively banish him, drawing parallels to the dramatic downfall of their uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of titles and removed from Royal Lodge over his connections to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Scathing Response from Sussex Spokesperson
In a strongly worded statement, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan criticized Bower's work: "Mr. Bower's commentary has long crossed the line from criticism into fixation. This is someone who has publicly stated, 'the monarchy in fact depends on actually obliterating the Sussexes from our state of life,' language that speaks for itself."
The spokesperson continued: "He 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."
Royal Silence and Background Context
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on behalf of King Charles and Queen Camilla, while representatives of the Prince and Princess of Wales offered no immediate response. Sky News has reached out to the publisher, Bonnier Books, for additional commentary.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex married in May 2018 before stepping down as senior working royals in 2020 and relocating to California. They have two children: six-year-old Archie and four-year-old Lilibet. Their relationship with the royal family has remained strained since their departure, with various media accounts and biographies offering conflicting narratives about the circumstances surrounding their exit and ongoing tensions.
