Tom Bower Defends Royal Book as Sussexes Accuse Him of Fixation
Journalist and author Tom Bower has responded robustly after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex launched a blistering attack on him over his explosive new book, 'Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family'. The Sussexes issued a bombshell statement on Saturday morning, claiming Bower is "clouded by hatred" towards them and that his commentary has "crossed the line from criticism into fixation".
Sussexes' Furious Statement and Bower's Defence
In their statement, Harry and Meghan blasted Bower for previous comments where he suggested the need for them to be "obliterated", as well as criticism in his book targeting their Invictus Games project. Defending his position, Bower told the Mirror that his "obliteration" remark was made in response to Meghan's allegations of racism against the Royal Family in her Oprah Winfrey interview. He stated, "Since then they have shoddily continued to monetise their status and attack their family. 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."
Claims About Invictus Games and Royal Tensions
Regarding the Invictus Games, Bower claimed the event has morphed into "the Harry and Meghan show" with poor attendance and crowd "padding" for cameras. He 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 response, a spokesperson for the Invictus Games Foundation said it is "disappointing" to see commentary driven by an agenda rather than understanding, emphasising the focus should remain on supporting service personnel and veterans.
Explosive Allegations in 'Betrayal' Book
Bower's book, serialised by The Times, includes several new claims:
- Queen Camilla allegedly told a friend that Prince Harry had been "brainwashed" by Meghan.
- Meghan furiously ordered Prince William to "get your finger out of my face" during a reconciliation meeting after their 2018 wedding.
- William and Kate considered Meghan a threat to the royal family, with William saying Harry's relationship had "gone too quickly".
- Harry was heavily influenced by Meghan early on, ignoring old friends and changing his phone number without telling his family.
The book also touches on Harry's fears that future King William could remove the Sussexes' titles, drawing parallels to Prince Andrew's downfall. Bower writes, "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."
Background and Reactions
Bower, who has written unauthorised biographies of figures like Bernie Ecclestone and Tony Blair, published a previous book on the Sussexes in 2022. In his new work, he alleges Meghan has "separated herself from Harry except seemingly when a joint appearance would enrich her publicity". The Mirror has contacted Buckingham Palace and Sussex representatives for comment, with Kensington Palace declining to comment. The ongoing feud highlights deepening rifts within the Royal Family and the Sussexes' continued public battles.
