Tom Bower's Explosive Royal Book Ignites Furious Response from Sussexes
A new royal biography has triggered a fierce backlash from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle condemning its author, Tom Bower, as 'deranged' and accusing him of crossing ethical boundaries. The book, set for release later this month, makes sensational claims about the royal family, including an alleged statement from Queen Camilla that 'Meghan's brainwashed Harry'.
Allegations of Royal Tensions and Threats
In Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, Bower asserts that the Prince and Princess of Wales viewed Meghan as 'a threat' prior to the Sussexes' relocation to the United States. Additionally, the book suggests Prince Harry harbored fears that his brother, Prince William, might strip the Sussexes of their titles and effectively exile them from Britain.
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan responded sharply, stating that Bower has 'long crossed the line from criticism into fixation'. They highlighted his past comments about the monarchy depending on 'obliterating the Sussexes from our state of life', and criticized his career built on 'constructing ever more elaborate theories about people he does not know'. The couple urged those seeking factual accounts to look elsewhere, while noting that fans of conspiracy and melodrama would find his work appealing.
Who Is Tom Bower?
Tom Bower, a 79-year-old former BBC Panorama journalist, is renowned for his unauthorized biographies. Since leaving the BBC in 1995, he has authored over 20 books delving into the lives of royals, politicians, and business magnates. His early works focused on post-war Germany and Nazi war criminals, before shifting to figures like Robert Maxwell and Richard Branson, both of whom unsuccessfully sued him.
Bower has sold more than two million copies of his books, with some receiving critical acclaim. His exposé on corruption in English football, Broken Dreams: Vanity, Greed and the Souring of British Football, earned the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award. Interestingly, not all his subjects have become adversaries; he claims friendships with Simon Cowell and Bernie Ecclestone following biographies on them.
Bower's History with the Royal Family
The royal family has been a frequent target of Bower's investigative work. In 2018, he published The Rebel Prince, a best-selling biography that portrayed King Charles as vain and out of touch during his post-Diana rehabilitation efforts. More recently, in 2022, Bower released Revenge, a book on Meghan and Harry that alleged the Duchess rejected reconciliation efforts with her father suggested by the Queen and Prince Charles.
In a 2023 interview, Bower revealed that Revenge was his most lucrative work, selling over 300,000 hardback copies in the UK alone. This latest book continues his pattern of provocative royal narratives, further straining his relationship with the Sussexes, who have clashed with him before over his contentious portrayals.
