A new book by author Tom Bower has claimed that Queen Camilla once told a friend that Meghan Markle had “brainwashed” Prince Harry during the early stages of tensions within the British royal family.
According to Bower’s account, the remark was allegedly made shortly after Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. The ceremony, which attracted global attention, was widely viewed as a joyful occasion for the royal family. However, the book claims that tensions behind palace walls had already begun to emerge at that time.
Bower alleges that relations within the royal household began to deteriorate soon after the couple returned from their honeymoon in the Mediterranean. According to the book, a heated disagreement reportedly took place between Harry and his older brother, Prince William, which escalated during a family dispute.
The author claims that during the confrontation Markle responded sharply when tensions rose. She is quoted in the book as telling William, “If you don’t mind, get your finger out of my face.” The alleged exchange is said to have intensified the strained atmosphere among members of the royal family.
Following the dispute, Bower claims that Queen Camilla privately expressed frustration about the situation in a conversation with a friend. According to the author, she suggested that Markle had “brainwashed” Prince Harry, a remark that reportedly reflected concerns among some members of the royal household about the growing divide within the family.
The book also alleges that Prince William had earlier warned his younger brother about moving too quickly in the relationship. According to Bower’s account, William is said to have advised Harry to take more time before committing to marriage, reportedly telling him that the relationship was progressing too fast.
In addition, the book claims that Catherine, Princess of Wales had similar concerns. Bower suggests that Catherine believed Harry might be vulnerable to outside influence and worried that the rapid development of the relationship could create tensions within the royal family.
According to the author, Harry and Meghan also reportedly felt frustrated about their roles within the monarchy’s structure. The book suggests that the couple believed they would remain secondary figures within the royal hierarchy, behind the direct line of succession to the throne.
The growing tensions eventually culminated in the couple’s decision in 2020 to step back from their roles as senior working members of the royal family. The move, widely referred to as “Megxit” in media coverage, marked a major turning point in modern royal history.
After stepping down from official royal duties, Harry and Meghan relocated to the United States, where they began pursuing independent professional and charitable activities. Since then, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have spoken publicly about their experiences within the royal institution.
Their criticisms of royal life have included the widely viewed 2021 television interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which the couple discussed their struggles within the royal family and the pressures of life inside the monarchy.
Prince Harry also expanded on his personal experiences in his 2023 memoir Spare, where he described family disagreements, his relationship with the press and the challenges he faced while growing up within the royal household.
Despite years of strained relations between Harry, Meghan and other members of the royal family, reports in recent years have suggested that reconciliation may still be possible. Some media reports have speculated that Harry could invite his father, King Charles III, to open the Invictus Games scheduled to take place in Birmingham in 2027.
Meanwhile, Meghan Markle has continued to develop new business and media ventures. Following the end of a collaboration between her lifestyle brand As Ever and the streaming platform Netflix, representatives for the Duchess have stated that the brand will continue to operate independently.
Her team has indicated that the brand is planning future projects and events as Markle expands her business activities in lifestyle media and consumer products.
While Bower’s book presents new claims about private conversations and family disagreements, members of the royal family have not publicly responded to the specific allegations outlined in the publication. As with many accounts of royal affairs based on anonymous sources or private recollections, some of the claims remain difficult to independently verify.
Nevertheless, the revelations have renewed public discussion about the long-running tensions within the British royal family and the complex relationship between tradition, modern media scrutiny and the personal lives of its members.
