Meghan Markle’s spokesperson took a swipe at “deranged conspiracy theories” in a new royal book—risking an age old PR mistake known as “the Streisand effect.”
Tom Bower’s new biography, Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, was serialized in U.K. newspaper The Times over the weekend prompting a broadside against the author from the Sussex camp.
It is easy to see why emotions were running high since the book says Queen Camilla thought that Meghan brainwashed Prince Harry and issued several swipes at Harry’s most significant project, The Invictus Games, an Olympic-style tournament for wounded veterans.
Why It Matters
Needless to say, such fight backs can have unpredictable consequences which include giving free advertising to the author, a widely acknowledged phenomenon known in PR as “the Streisand effect,” after a famous incident in which Barbra Streisand sued a photographer, seeking the removal of images of the California coast which featured her home only to bring more attention to them.
In the same way, Harry and Meghan’s retort may indeed put some off the book while also making otherwise curious to discover what all the fuss is about.
Bad Blood Between Tom Bower and Meghan and Harry
Bower has been viewed by Harry and Meghan’s supporters as something of a villain for a long time, in fact many committed fans previously named their social media accounts after his past swipe that she was a “brazen hussey.” Adding that as a suffix on X was for a while a key sign that someone was pro-Meghan.
It had also been known for a while that he was working on a new book after he flew to Canada for the Invictus Games in February 2025 and was spotted by Harry and Meghan fans, sparking a set to.
The history goes back to the hype that built up around Bower’s first book about Meghan, titled Revenge, which included the suggestion Queen Elizabeth II had been pleased that Meghan did not attend Prince Philip’s funeral. He also took aim at her story about campaigning to change a sexist dishwasher soap advert and a cover story she did with Vanity Fair early in her relationship with Harry.
After this weekend’s serialization in The Times, a spokesperson for the couple came out fighting: “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. He 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.”
Needless to say, some may read those words and be curious to know what could prompt such a barrage, after all there are many hit pieces about the Sussexes and most pass without comment.
Tom Bower’s New Book
One of the big lines from the book that was picked up by the British press was about how the royals viewed Meghan: “William’s original fears were soon realized. Meghan had become a divisive agent.
“To please her, Harry was ignoring his old friends. He even changed his telephone number without telling his family. The jovial lad about town became possessed by seeking revenge. Increasingly, his character mirrored Meghan’s.
“Emotionally, he veered toward extremes. Simple dislikes became passionate hatred. ‘Meghan’s brainwashed Harry,’ Camilla told a friend.”
Clearly though, the strong Sussex reaction was also a product of deep offense at how Bower described the Invictus Games, suggesting some athletes “wheeled themselves off the court into a secluded area and effortlessly they all got up and walked away. None of them appeared to be physically injured.”
A spokesperson for the Invictus Games Foundation said: “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 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. The focus should remain where it belongs—on the courage, recovery and camaraderie of those who have served.”
Whatever the ultimate result of Harry and Meghan’s decision to fire back at Bower, it clearly demonstrates he has again struck a nerve with the couple.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.newsweek.com ’
