The rift between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the British royal family remains as wide as ever, according to research, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle having left the U.K. six years ago and stepped away from their royal duties. A new book, 'Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family' by Tom Bower, lays bare the strained relationship between the Sussexes and the Windsors, as reported by research, and The Times has published excerpts from Bower’s book in installments, research indicates. Harry and Meghan have neither been present nor expected to return to the U.K. since leaving, research suggests, and the scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has not prompted King Charles or Prince William to seek help from Harry and Meghan, according to research.
Early tensions between Prince William and Prince Harry escalated shortly after Harry and Meghan returned from their honeymoon in 2018, Tom Bower's book claims, with research noting this allegation. During one confrontation, Meghan allegedly told Prince William, 'If you don’t mind, get your finger out of my face,' according to Tom Bower's book, though this remains an unverified allegation. Prince William’s reservations about Meghan were clear from the beginning, Tom Bower's book states, and he warned Harry that things had moved 'too fast' in his relationship with Meghan, the book alleges. Meghan soon became a divisive figure within the royal family, Tom Bower's book claims, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex felt a lingering resentment about their place in the royal hierarchy, believing they would always remain in Prince William and Kate’s shadow, the book reports.
In an effort to please Meghan, Harry avoided seeing his old friends and became 'obsessed with revenge,' Tom Bower's book alleges, with research noting this claim. Harry's personality increasingly resembled Meghan’s, and he changed from a 'sociable and cheerful young man,' according to Tom Bower's book, as reported by research. Prince Harry's speeches had a Californian ring to them, and every speech he made on a 2018 Australia tour was vetted by Meghan, Tom Bower's book claims. At the 2019 Commonwealth Day service, Harry appeared uncomfortable and the rapport between him and Meghan looked nil, the book alleges.
Prince Harry announced the birth of his son Archie at 2:40pm on May 6, 2019, 50 minutes after Buckingham Palace announced Meghan had gone into labor, according to major media reports. Archie was born at 5:26am on May 6, 2019, at The Portland Hospital in London, major media reports indicate. A photo of Archie's feet was released on Instagram on May 12, 2019, and another photo showed Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and Doria Ragland gazing down at him, according to major media reports. Harry and Meghan refused to announce the godparents at Archie's christening on July 6, 2019, major media reports state.
I meant it as a wish for permanent silence after Meghan's racism allegations.
There was a split between the Cambridges and Sussexes, with the latter setting up their own independent Household and moving to Frogmore Cottage, according to major media reports. Harry wanted a half-in, half-out arrangement with the Royal Family but was told it was all in or all out at a Sandringham summit in early 2020, major media reports indicate. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex felt a lingering resentment about their place in the royal hierarchy, believing they would always remain in Prince William and Kate’s shadow, Tom Bower's book claims.
Meghan told Tom Bradby of ITN during an Africa visit that she was miserable, and the Royal Family became concerned about the Sussex Household, Tom Bower's book alleges. Queen Camilla told a friend that Meghan had 'brainwashed' Harry, according to Tom Bower's book, though whether she actually made this comment remains an unverified allegation. The Prince and Princess of Wales viewed Meghan as 'a threat more than an ally,' Tom Bower's book claims.
Tom Bower's book claims Meghan used 'faux-royal tours' to accuse the Royal Family of being racist, including during a visit to Nigeria in May 2024. Meghan told a story over dinner in Nigeria about two senior royals asking Harry what color their unborn child would be, the same claim she made to Oprah Winfrey, the book alleges.
A brand audit found people don't want to be associated with Harry's Netflix shows and especially not with Meghan, and that Meghan had little brand value in America, Tom Bower's book claims, though the accuracy of these findings is unverified. Harry was stunned by the brand audit findings and questioned how he and Meghan could not bounce back like Johnny Depp did, the book alleges. American polo sponsors cancelled donations and Audi withdrew its $1 million sponsorship due to controversy around Harry and Meghan, Tom Bower's book claims, though the extent of financial impacts remains unclear. Harry and Meghan were targeted by a Variety article criticizing their Netflix partnership, which royal expert Jennie Bond said would hurt them, according to major media reports.
Meghan has huge ambition but a lack of talent, and her actions come at the expense of the Royal Family.
Tom Bower's book claims Prince Harry reacted angrily after being told his memoir 'Spare' and Netflix series hurt his brand. Harry showed coolness to Sentebale chairwoman Sophie Chandauka after she told him about the brand audit findings during a flight to Singapore in 2023, the book alleges. Tom Bower criticized the Invictus Games, claiming it has morphed into 'the Harry and Meghan show' with poor attendance and crowd padding.
The scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has not prompted King Charles or Prince William to seek help from Harry and Meghan, research indicates. Harry and Meghan continue with their schedules, combining the royal world with the celebrity sphere, according to research.
Harry and Meghan issued a statement accusing Tom Bower of being 'clouded by hatred' and his commentary crossing from criticism into fixation, their spokesperson confirmed.
Key unknowns in the controversy include whether Queen Camilla actually made the 'brainwashing' comment about Meghan, as it is an unverified allegation from Tom Bower's book, and whether Meghan actually told Prince William 'get your finger out of my face' during a confrontation, as this is also an unverified allegation. The accuracy of the brand audit findings cited by Tom Bower is uncertain, as they are presented as allegations without independent verification, and the extent of financial impacts on Harry and Meghan's ventures, such as sponsorship withdrawals, remains unclear as these are allegations from Tom Bower's book.