Prince Harry has been accused of "emotional blackmail" in a stinging takedown by royal author Tom Bower ahead of his highly anticipated return to the UK next month. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed they will travel from California in July with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to attend the One Year to Go event for the Invictus Games in Birmingham.
Bower's Accusations
Bower, whose book Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family was released earlier this year, exclusively told the Daily Express: "I think it is emotional blackmail, and I think that Harry needs the King in Birmingham to give himself and the game's credibility, and I think that it will be very divisive." The author claimed that bringing the children along is a form of manipulation, as it would mark the first time King Charles has seen his two youngest grandchildren in four years.
Bower added: "I think the King would make a great mistake to fall in with the Sussex's plan, with Harry's plan. You've got to remember that when they left England, in their interviews and films and everything they've done, they always said they needed a public apology from the King, the Royal Family and from Prince William, but there is not going to be an apology. It's they who should apologise for all the lies and terrible damage they've done."
Background on the Visit
Harry's last visit to the UK was in September last year, when he had a private 45-minute meeting with his father at Clarence House. Following that meeting, he told reporters, "Yes, he's great," when asked about the encounter. The upcoming trip will be the first time the entire Sussex family has visited the UK since Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.
According to The Sun, there is "an agreement" that the King will meet Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet during their stay. Reports also suggest the family has been offered a stay in a royal residence, though this has not been officially confirmed.
Sussexes' Response to Bower
Bower's comments come after he was the subject of a no-holds-barred statement from the Sussexes following the release of his book earlier this year. The statement claimed that the author has "long crossed the line from criticism into fixation," and added: "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."
