Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have hit back at claims in the new royal book Betrayal: Power, deception and the battle for the future of the royal family, suggesting that the late Queen Elizabeth II once told a friend that the Duchess of Sussex had “brainwashed” her husband.
The pair described author Tom Bower as having a “fixation” on them and dismissed his theories as far-fetched.
A spokesman for the Sussexes said on Saturday, March 14, that Bower “crossed the line from criticism to fixation,” saying he publicly stated that the monarchy “depends on actually wiping the couple out of our way of life.”
The statement continued: “He has made a career out of constructing increasingly elaborate theories about people he does not know and has never met.
Those interested in facts will look elsewhere; those looking for deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find him.”
The book also claimed that Prince William and the Princess of Wales viewed Meghan as “a threat” as tensions escalated before the couple left the UK for a new life in Montecito, California.
According to Bower, Harry was “shocked” by Prince Andrew’s downfall and feared the future king could strip the Sussexes of all their titles.
They are scheduled to return to Australia in mid-April as private citizens, marking their first visit since their royal tour in 2018.
During their time Down Under, they will visit Sydney and Melbourne, reconnect with old acquaintances and revisit some of their past ventures, including charity work and speaking engagements.
