Journalist and author Tom Bower has had his say after the Sussex’s reacted angrily to his explosive new book ‘Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family’
The author of a new book that claims Queen Camilla said Prince Harry had been “brainwashed” by Meghan has hit back at the couple after they launched a blistering attack on him.
Tom Bower was the subject of a bombshell statement issued by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Saturday morning, in which they claimed the former BBC journalist was “clouded by hatred” towards them before alleging his “commentary has long crossed the line from criticism into fixation”.
They also blasted him for a previous statement he made about the need for Harry and Meghan to be “obliterated” and about comments he has made in the new book, criticising the couple’s Invictus Games project.
READ MORE: Six biggest claims in new Harry & Meghan book – brainwashing, staged pics and ‘the show’READ MORE: ‘Get your finger out of my face’ – inside Meghan’s row with Prince William
Defending his “obliteration” comment, which he previously made in an interview in February 2024, he today told the Mirror: “My interview followed Meghan outrageously alleging to Oprah Winfrey that the Royal Family was racist... Since then they have shoddily continued to monetise their status and attack their family. In that sense, I meant ‘obliterate’ as a wish for permanent silence. Unfortunately they have chosen to continue to exploit their relationship for their personal and financial advantage. I sincerely feel that both Sussexes have caused such irreversible damage to our royal family for their own profit that their silence would have been hugely welcome.”
Speaking about his criticism of the Invictus Games, which included claims the event has morphed into “the Harry and Meghan show” with poor event attendance and crowd “padding” for the benefit of cameras, Mr Bower added: “Regarding Invictus, I wrote that it is a truly noble cause for genuine heroes. However what I saw in Vancouver and Whistler last year failed to live up to the expectations created by the organisers.”
In a statement released about the contents of the new book, which is being serialised by The Times, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan earlier said: “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.
“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.”
In response to the comments in the book relation to the Invictus Games, a spokesperson for the Invictus Games Foundation said: “It is disappointing to see The Times give prominence to commentary that appears driven by a long-established agenda rather than a genuine understanding of the Invictus Games and the community it supports.
“The Foundation exists to support the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans from around the world. Attempts to question the legitimacy of competitors or diminish the experiences of those living with both physical injuries and invisible wounds such as PTSD are deeply disrespectful to the men and women the Games were created for. The focus should remain where it belongs – on the courage, recovery and camaraderie of those who have served.”
In his bombshell tome, titled ‘Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family ‘, Mr Bower has alleged Camilla made the brainwashed comment after her youngest step-son, 41, and his wife, 44, began to battle with the rest of the family, including Prince William and his wife Princess Kate, who are said to have raised concerns about the relationship.
It also alleges Meghan snapped at Prince William during an intended reconciliation meeting after their wedding in May 2018, which saw her furiously order him: “If you don’t mind, get your finger out of my face”.
Mr Bower also claims William and Kate considered Meghan a threat to the royal family and that they had been unhappy by how Harry had cut off old pals after he first got together with the former actress. He also writes that “the teatime reconciliation meeting between the brothers and their wives had spun out of control”.
The book goes on to tell how Harry had watched the confrontation escalate, with William allegedly saying of his brother’s relationship with the Meghan that it “gone too quickly”. Mr Bower also claims in the book that both Kate and William saw Meghan as a threat rather than a potential ally in the group of young royals that had once been known as “The Fab Four”.
And he alleges Harry, who now has two children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, with Meghan, was heavily influenced by his future wife from early in their relationship. He wrote: “William’s original fears were soon realised. Meghan had become a divisive agent. To please her, Harry was ignoring his old friends. He even changed his telephone number without telling his family.”
Mr Bower, who has previously written books about such figures as Bernie Ecclestone, Tony Blair and Simon Cowell, writes: ” ‘Meghan’s brainwashed Harry,’ Camilla told a friend.” Bower published a previous unauthorised book about Harry and Meghan in 2022, which detailed their relationship and conflicts with the Royal Family based on extensive research and interviews with insiders.
In his new book book, Bower writes: “Four years ago, Revenge, my book about the Sussexes’ war against the Windsors, exposed the truth about Meghan’s past. It revealed how she had ditched her family, friends and others to become famous. Since then, she has separated herself from Harry except seemingly when a joint appearance would enrich her publicity.”
The question of Harry’s royal titles is also touched on, with the author claiming Harry has grown increasingly worried his older brother may take drastic action when he ascends the throne. The extracts suggest Harry was “shocked” by the downfall of Andrew-Mountbatten Windsor following revelations about his association with the convicted US paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr Bower added in the book: “The unpredicted and unimagined humiliation of Andrew shocked Harry. Rightly, Harry fears that the future King William could remove all the Sussexes’ titles and effectively banish him from Britain.”
The Mirror has contacted Buckingham Palace and representatives for the Sussexes for comment. Kensington Palace has declined to comment. Tom Bower’s book is being serialised in The Times.
