Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have hit back at claims by royal author Tom Bower suggesting Queen Camilla told a friend of hers that Meghan “brainwashed” Harry.
An excerpt from the upcoming book also took a dig at Harry’s Invictus Games initiative, claiming competitors were being overshadowed by orchestrated photo ops by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
It comes amid claims that Prince William and Prince Harry have remained estranged due to the future king’s refusal to speak to his younger brother.
Sussex Spokesperson Brands Royal Author’s Claims ‘Deranged’
Harry and Meghan have responded to a series of shocking claims that were featured in royal author Tom Bowers upcoming book “Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family.”
In the book, Bower alleged that Queen Camilla privately told a friend that the former “Suits” actress had “brainwashed” Harry amid the royal family’s feud.
He also claims the Sussexes’ relationship dynamics worried William and Kate, as they feared the pair were moving too fast with Meghan leading the charge.
Bower claims that the standoff caused both couples’ relationship to further sour, but a source close to Harry and Meghan has slammed the claims, calling them a “deranged conspiracy.”
“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,” the spokesperson told Page Six.
They continued, “[Bower] 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.”
Prince Harry And Meghan Also Responded To The Royal Author’s Invictus Games Dig
The Times put out an excerpt from Bower’s book wherein he claims that former Invictus Foundation chief Dominic Reid was worried that the competition was losing its juice and the sport had changed into “the Harry and Meghan show.”
The claims also suggested that the event wasn’t getting much attendance again, and competitors and their families were overshadowed by coordinated photo ops for the couple.
However, a spokesperson for the Invictus Games maintains that Bower’s claims are divorced from reality as they relate to the competition.
“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 spokesperson noted about the royal author’s claims.
The Royal Author’s Claims Concerning The Invictus Games Were Called ‘Disrespectful’
The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event specifically designed for wounded, injured, or sick servicemen and women, both active duty and veterans.
Since its first competition in 2014 in London, it has been held in various cities, including Orlando, Toronto, and Düsseldorf, using sport as a means to engage and rehabilitate wounded veterans.
The spokesperson in responding to the claims went further to spell out the good the Games have done, saying, “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,” they continued.
“The focus should remain where it belongs – on the courage, recovery, and camaraderie of those who have served,” the spokesperson added.
Lip Reader Reveals Argument Between Harry And William During Infamous Walkabout
Meanwhile, reports suggest Harry and William had an “argument” before they stepped out with their respective wife for their “awkward” Windsor walkabout following Queen Elizabeth’s death.
It was the first time they’d all come together following Harry and Meghan’s decision to drop their royal roles in 2020.
A new documentary, “Lip-Reading The Royals: What Are They Really Saying?” shows that the brothers had a heated exchange before they stepped out to greet well-wishers and inspect the flowers they’d laid outside.
Speaking on the programme, Lip reader Nicola Hickling said as they started to walk to the gates, William appeared to have told Kate, “let’s move,” per the Daily Mail.
After that, Harry touched William on his shoulder before the future king reportedly told the duke, “Why are we together? This is not the end.”
“And at that moment, Meghan chimes in ‘not today,’” Hickling continued. “She can obviously feel a tension here between William and Harry.”
The lipreader then said she believed Harry responded, “Not now, please, I didn’t foresee this,” possibly because he wasn’t aware of the joint engagement beforehand.
Kate then reportedly said, “Stop arguing.”
Prince Harry And William Remain Estranged Despite The Duke’s Attempts To Reach Out To The Future King
Author Omid Scobie recently shared that nothing has changed between Harry and William since the duke and his wife stepped down as working royals.
He told People Magazine that in 2023, “Harry was still waiting for that moment of accountability from his brother — an opportunity to talk about many of the grievances that have built up to this point and be able to move on from that.”
Unfortunately, as of 2026, “nothing has changed,” according to Scobie, who further noted that “the expectations and wants and wishes of Prince Harry are exactly the same as they were then — and none of them have been met.”
Scobie also hinted that the future king is the cause of the lengthened estrangement between the brothers, stating that the “ball has been in William’s court for some time now and he’s chosen not just to knock it back, but to kick it in the other direction.”
