AceShowbiz - Tom Bower, the royal biographer, has fired back at the backlash from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle concerning his upcoming book, Betrayal: Power, Deceit And The Fight For The Future Of The Royal Family. The couple labelled the book as “deranged conspiracy and melodrama,” prompting a strong rebuttal from Bower.

The controversy reignited following a revealing piece in Hollywood’s Variety magazine, which examined the Sussexes’ partnership with Netflix and their broader entertainment ventures. In response, Bower criticised Harry and Meghan for their “lack of original talent and suffocating self-importance,” suggesting their prospects in Hollywood are dwindling.

Speaking exclusively to the Express, Bower said: “The Variety article endorses what I described in my book, Betrayal. The Sussexes are reaching the end of the road in Hollywood.” He added that their behaviour and attitude make it more crucial for them to return to the UK in July to meet King Charles and regain royal approval. However, Bower expressed doubt that the couple will be welcomed back, warning that the consequences of “Megxit” have left them facing “an increasingly tough future.”

The Sussexes were quick to publicly reject the claims when excerpts from Bower’s book appeared in The Times before its official release on March 26. Their statement accused the author of having “long crossed the line from criticism into fixation.” It highlighted a prior comment by Bower where he said the monarchy depends on “obliterating the Sussexes from our state of life,” framing this as an indication of his biased approach.

They further described Bower as someone who builds “ever more elaborate theories about people he does not know and has never met.” The couple urged readers seeking factual information to look elsewhere, while those interested in “deranged conspiracy and melodrama” would find his work suitable.

Among the allegations in Bower’s book is a claim that Queen Camilla confided in a friend that Meghan had “brainwashed” Prince Harry. This assertion adds to the growing tensions detailed in the book surrounding the Sussexes’ relationship with the wider royal family.

The Variety report also accused Netflix of being “blindsided” by the Sussexes’ explosive 2020 interview with Oprah Winfrey. Sources cited in the article said many within the company were frustrated by the lack of communication and only discovered at the last moment that Harry and Meghan would reveal intimate and headline-grabbing details during the interview.

However, a spokesperson for the Sussexes firmly denied this claim, calling it “categorically false.” They stressed that Netflix and the couple’s production company, Archewell, had legal counsel involved throughout the deal, which is common practice in Hollywood, and that communication about the interview was transparent.

The report also touched on Netflix’s concerns about Prince Harry’s memoir, which was released in early January 2023, shortly after their docuseries Harry & Meghan debuted in December 2022. According to Variety, Netflix approached the Sussexes to discuss how the book deal might affect the docuseries release. Sources alleged Meghan downplayed the memoir’s auction, suggesting to Netflix chief Ted Sarandos that any publication would be far off or might never happen.

Meghan’s spokesperson countered this narrative as well, calling it “categorically untrue.” They insisted there had been “open communication with Netflix months before release” to coordinate the timing of the book and series.

The excerpts from Bower’s book delve into various aspects of the Sussexes’ lives, including their relationships with Prince William and Princess Catherine, as well as their commercial and charitable activities since stepping back as working royals in 2020 and relocating to the United States. Their partnerships with Netflix and Spotify feature prominently in the discussion.

Recently, Netflix ended its collaboration with Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, allowing the Duchess to independently develop the brand’s future. This move came after reports surfaced that the couple secured a new “first look” deal with Netflix, widely described as a “downgraded” or “watered down” version of their original contract.

At Fortune’s Powerful Women Summit in Washington last October, Meghan spoke about the new arrangement, explaining that the original overall deal with Netflix had evolved into a first look deal. She described this as “exciting” because it provides flexibility to offer their projects to Netflix first but also allows them to shop content elsewhere if it is not a good fit for the streaming giant.

As the Sussexes continue to navigate their post-royal careers amid public scrutiny and media attention, the release of Bower’s book promises to further fuel debate about their place in both the royal family and the entertainment world. The author’s claims and the couple’s strong rebuttals illustrate the ongoing tension surrounding their highly publicised departure from royal duties and their ambitions beyond the monarchy.