Queen Camilla told her friend that Meghan Markle ‘brainwashed’ Prince Harry, new book claims
A new book claims Queen Camilla told a friend that Meghan Markle was ‘brainwashing’ Prince Harry as the bitter feud between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family deepened.
In his dramatic account of the breakdown in relations, author Tom Bower claims tensions were already escalating within weeks of Harry and Meghan returning from their honeymoon in the summer of 2018.
The book claims a supposedly conciliatory teatime meeting between Harry and his brother resulted in Meghan shouting at Prince William: ‘If you don’t mind, get your finger out of my face.’
The conflict comes amid growing concerns within the Royal Family that Harry has changed under Meghan’s influence, even secretly changing his mobile phone number.
As the row intensified, Camilla is said to have told a friend: “Meghan brainwashed Harry.”
The remarks allegedly reflect fears within the family that the once carefree prince was drifting away from his relatives and the life he led before meeting Suits actor Meghan.
Allegedly, William had doubts about Meghan long before the couple’s wedding and warned Harry that the relationship was moving too quickly.
“It was over too soon,” the future king is said to have told his younger brother of his budding love affair.
Queen Camilla and Meghan Markle in May 2018. Describing the dramatic breakdown in relations, author Tom Bower claims tensions between the Queen and the Duchess of Sussex had already escalated within weeks of Harry and Meghan returning from their honeymoon in the summer of 2018.
Prince Harry was in Jordan last month. The conflict between Meghan and Harry comes as concerns grow within the Royal Family that Harry is changing under Meghan’s influence
His concerns were reportedly shared by William’s wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales; Bower claimed that he, too, was wary of Meghan’s influence.
According to the book, which was serialized in The Times, both William and Kate believed Harry, who had been left in a difficult situation following the death of his mother Diana and struggled with drink, drugs and mental health problems, was particularly vulnerable.
Although Meghan’s ambition fascinated Harry, the family saw her as a potentially destabilizing force.
The author claims William and Catherine suspected Meghan was unhappy about the boundaries of Harry’s future within the monarchy and “regretted” the fact she would probably never become queen.
Rather than accept the royal ‘reserve’ role, Harry opposed palace control and distanced himself from his old circle of friends.
Bower writes that the prince, known for his boisterous, boozy and fun-loving ways, was “caught up in a quest for revenge.”
While the Sussexes have been isolated from Britain since quitting royal duties and moving to California in 2020, Meghan has focused on building a commercial brand in the United States.
At a recent Netflix event promoting its upcoming shows, Meghan’s new lifestyle series With Love Meghan was reportedly not mentioned by the streaming giant’s chief content officer.
Bower also describes how the couple tried to boost their public image by visiting a soup kitchen in Pasadena during California’s devastating wildfires and sharing footage of the trip on social media.
But critics accused them of a publicity stunt in which Hollywood film producer Justine Bateman branded the couple ‘ambulance chasers’ and ‘disaster tourists’.
Harry reportedly hopes his father, Prince Charles, will open the 2027 Invictus Games, the international sporting event he founded for injured veterans in 2014, to be held in Birmingham.
But with the family still on edge, Bower suggests such a reconciliation is unlikely.
