To say it’s been a difficult week for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is an understatement. While the couple have not commented publicly on the unauthorised biography Revenge: Meghan, Harry And The War Between The Windsors, former royal butler Grant Harrold say it will have left Harry and Meghan feeling “angry” and “hurt”.
For the book, which features a series of shocking revelations about the couple, the author spoke to more than 80 sources who claim to shed some light on what’s really been going on behind closed palace doors. Bower admits the only insiders who would speak to him are those who “didn’t like” Meghan, as those closest to her did not wish to comment.
The book’s revelations include the sensational claim that the Queen was relieved that heavily pregnant Meghan, 40, was unable attend Prince Philip’s funeral, allegedly saying, “Thank goodness Meghan isn’t coming.” As new went to press, Buckigham Palace had not commented on these claims.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1658723799/articles/tTJinz9Oa1658742301703/1131250038.jpg]
In the book, Bower claims 37-year-old Harry’s pals called him “nuts” to be with Meghan and that by July 2018, Prince Charles had started to grow frustrated with his new daughter- in-law, saying he had “never really understood her or what she wanted”.
Grant says of the claims, “I have no doubt Harry and Meghan will be angry and slightly hurt.”
But he is unsure if the couple will take legal action over the book. “I’m wondering if they’ll do that thing where they think, let’s just not act immediately, let’s just think on it and sleep on it.
“Harry knows his grandmother really well. He knows the kinds of things that she does or says so he will probably have an idea of whether it’s just somebody trying to put a bit of coal in the fire.”
Royal biographer Katie Nicholl belives it’s possible the Queen did say those words.
“We never know what is said privately between the Queen and her friends and her aides, but Bower’s got good sources and contacts,” she says.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1658723799/articles/tTJinz9Oa1658742301703/2251218388.jpg]
“It sounds very believable and I think it’s absolutely the case that the Queen didn’t want her husband’s funeral overshadowed by any drama. When Meghan and Harry are there, drama doesn’t seem to be too far behind them.”
In terms of Harry’s friends’ damning opinion of Meghan, Bower describes an event in 2016 at Sandringham, where Harry hosted a shooting weekend for 16 of his friends, most of whom were old pals from Eton. According to the biographer, the party didn’t exactly go to plan and Harry’s new girlfriend was unimpressed by the topics of conversation, taking some to task on comments she didn’t agree with. Bower claims Harry’s friends concluded “she lacked any sense of humour” and he alleges texts were exchanged afterward, saying, “Harry must be nuts”.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1658723799/articles/tTJinz9Oa1658742301703/2118160541.jpg]
Royal expert Duncan Larcombe, author of Prince Harry: The Inside Story, describes these comments as “bold claims”. He told us, “The alleged reaction of Harry’s old Eton chums trying to warn him against Meghan is pretty strong stuff.”
But Duncan isn’t sure how much Harry and Meghan, who are parents to Archie, three, and Lilibet, 13 months, will care. “I’m beginning to think they are impervious to criticism,” he says. Duncan believes the forthcoming release of Harry’s own memoir means that he’ll finally have his say. “I know he has a real desire to tell his own story in his words,” he says.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1658723799/articles/tTJinz9Oa1658742301703/8484181806.jpg]
“I would be very surprised if he didn’t try to fight back against some of that criticism and, if there’s no truth in these claims, then Harry is going to try to set the record straight.”
Katie agrees that Harry could get have his say. “Harry gets the chance to put his own story across in his forthcoming autobiography, so I am sure scores will be settled,” she says.
Katie also makes the point claims that Meghan was “abrasive” towards palace staff and became “hysterical” when a Vanity Fair cover in 2017 didn’t turn out how she expected will “sting”. She explains, “Meghan is portrayed as calculating, so I’m sure some of it will be quite stinging for her.”
However, the journalist who interviewed Meghan for the 2017 Vanity Fair article has disputed the negative way Bower relayed the incident. Writer Sam Kashner praised Meghan as an “extraordinary woman” and says the biographer didn’t convey “my admiration and respect” for her.
But what of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge? Bower’s book claims Meghan “did make Kate cry” in an alleged row during a fitting for Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid’s dress.
So does Bower’s book mean there can be no reconciliation between brothers Prince William and Prince Harry?
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1658723799/articles/tTJinz9Oa1658742301703/5852725756.jpg]
“I think the nail in the coffin of reconciliation w...
For the book, which features a series of shocking revelations about the couple, the author spoke to more than 80 sources who claim to shed some light on what’s really been going on behind closed palace doors. Bower admits the only insiders who would speak to him are those who “didn’t like” Meghan, as those closest to her did not wish to comment.
The book’s revelations include the sensational claim that the Queen was relieved that heavily pregnant Meghan, 40, was unable attend Prince Philip’s funeral, allegedly saying, “Thank goodness Meghan isn’t coming.” As new went to press, Buckigham Palace had not commented on these claims.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1658723799/articles/tTJinz9Oa1658742301703/1131250038.jpg]
In the book, Bower claims 37-year-old Harry’s pals called him “nuts” to be with Meghan and that by July 2018, Prince Charles had started to grow frustrated with his new daughter- in-law, saying he had “never really understood her or what she wanted”.
Grant says of the claims, “I have no doubt Harry and Meghan will be angry and slightly hurt.”
But he is unsure if the couple will take legal action over the book. “I’m wondering if they’ll do that thing where they think, let’s just not act immediately, let’s just think on it and sleep on it.
“Harry knows his grandmother really well. He knows the kinds of things that she does or says so he will probably have an idea of whether it’s just somebody trying to put a bit of coal in the fire.”
Royal biographer Katie Nicholl belives it’s possible the Queen did say those words.
“We never know what is said privately between the Queen and her friends and her aides, but Bower’s got good sources and contacts,” she says.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1658723799/articles/tTJinz9Oa1658742301703/2251218388.jpg]
“It sounds very believable and I think it’s absolutely the case that the Queen didn’t want her husband’s funeral overshadowed by any drama. When Meghan and Harry are there, drama doesn’t seem to be too far behind them.”
In terms of Harry’s friends’ damning opinion of Meghan, Bower describes an event in 2016 at Sandringham, where Harry hosted a shooting weekend for 16 of his friends, most of whom were old pals from Eton. According to the biographer, the party didn’t exactly go to plan and Harry’s new girlfriend was unimpressed by the topics of conversation, taking some to task on comments she didn’t agree with. Bower claims Harry’s friends concluded “she lacked any sense of humour” and he alleges texts were exchanged afterward, saying, “Harry must be nuts”.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1658723799/articles/tTJinz9Oa1658742301703/2118160541.jpg]
Royal expert Duncan Larcombe, author of Prince Harry: The Inside Story, describes these comments as “bold claims”. He told us, “The alleged reaction of Harry’s old Eton chums trying to warn him against Meghan is pretty strong stuff.”
But Duncan isn’t sure how much Harry and Meghan, who are parents to Archie, three, and Lilibet, 13 months, will care. “I’m beginning to think they are impervious to criticism,” he says. Duncan believes the forthcoming release of Harry’s own memoir means that he’ll finally have his say. “I know he has a real desire to tell his own story in his words,” he says.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1658723799/articles/tTJinz9Oa1658742301703/8484181806.jpg]
“I would be very surprised if he didn’t try to fight back against some of that criticism and, if there’s no truth in these claims, then Harry is going to try to set the record straight.”
Katie agrees that Harry could get have his say. “Harry gets the chance to put his own story across in his forthcoming autobiography, so I am sure scores will be settled,” she says.
Katie also makes the point claims that Meghan was “abrasive” towards palace staff and became “hysterical” when a Vanity Fair cover in 2017 didn’t turn out how she expected will “sting”. She explains, “Meghan is portrayed as calculating, so I’m sure some of it will be quite stinging for her.”
However, the journalist who interviewed Meghan for the 2017 Vanity Fair article has disputed the negative way Bower relayed the incident. Writer Sam Kashner praised Meghan as an “extraordinary woman” and says the biographer didn’t convey “my admiration and respect” for her.
But what of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge? Bower’s book claims Meghan “did make Kate cry” in an alleged row during a fitting for Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid’s dress.
So does Bower’s book mean there can be no reconciliation between brothers Prince William and Prince Harry?
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1658723799/articles/tTJinz9Oa1658742301703/5852725756.jpg]
“I think the nail in the coffin of reconciliation w...
You're reading a preview of
New UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, August 01, 2022