Sussexes Launch Scathing Attack on Author's 'Deranged' Claims in New Book
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have launched a blistering counterattack against a controversial author, branding his new book's assertions as "deranged conspiracy and melodrama." In a strongly worded statement released over the weekend, the royal couple condemned Tom Bower, the writer behind Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, for what they describe as his unhealthy "fixation" on their lives.
Royal Couple Condemns Author's 'Fixation' and 'Elaborate Theories'
The Sussexes' statement directly addresses Bower's forthcoming publication, which is scheduled for release later this month. "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 couple declared. They further accused Bower of constructing "ever more elaborate theories about people he does not know and has never met," suggesting that those seeking factual information should look elsewhere.
Extracts from Bower's book, released on Friday, contain several explosive allegations about royal family dynamics. Among the most contentious claims is that Queen Camilla once told a friend: "Meghan's brainwashed Harry." The book also asserts that the Prince and Princess of Wales viewed Meghan as "a threat" during the period of escalating tensions that ultimately led to the Sussexes' departure from Britain to the United States.
Book Alleges Tense Royal Confrontations and Netflix Deal Fallout
Bower's narrative delves into specific incidents that allegedly occurred within royal circles. According to the author, during a reconciliation meeting held shortly after the Sussexes returned from their honeymoon in 2018, Meghan told Prince William: "If you don't mind, get your finger out of my face," as the teatime gathering reportedly "spun out of control."
The book also examines the couple's professional ventures, including their Netflix partnership and involvement with the Invictus Games. Bower refers to the 2025 Invictus Games as "the Meghan Games" and claims that after the perceived failure of their streaming deal, "Harry agreed that [Meghan] could star" at the sports tournament. Furthermore, the author cites two dismissed Canadian executives who allegedly "resented the pushy Sussexes" and claimed that "Meghan was a distraction from the injured veterans."
Harry's Media Battles and Family Tensions Detailed
Bower's extracts suggest that Prince Harry was profoundly affected by the downfall of Prince Andrew following revelations about his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "The unpredicted and unimagined humiliation of Andrew shocked Harry," Bower wrote. "Rightly, Harry fears that the future King William could remove all the Sussexes' titles and effectively banish him from Britain."
This publication arrives amid Prince Harry's ongoing legal battles against media organizations. In January, the Duke accused Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail, of attempting to drive him "to drugs and drinking" through invasive surveillance. Speaking emotionally in court, Harry claimed ANL continued to "come after" him and his wife, making Meghan's life "an absolute misery." These allegations follow Meghan's December accusation that the Daily Mail breached "clear ethical boundaries" by reporting from her estranged father Thomas Markle's bedside. ANL has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
The Sussexes' forceful rebuttal underscores their determination to challenge narratives they perceive as inaccurate or malicious, marking another chapter in their complex relationship with both the media and the institution they left behind.
