Queen Camilla privately told a friend that Meghan Markle had “brainwashed” Prince Harry amid the royal family’s feud, according to a bombshell new book.

Author Tom Bower claims the remark came as relations between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal clan hit boiling point shortly after their lavish nuptials at St George’s Chapel in 2018.

The glamorous wedding in Windsor was followed by a Mediterranean honeymoon, but behind palace walls, the honeymoon period was already over.

According to Bower, whose new book is serialized in The Times, things turned ugly soon after the newlyweds returned to Britain.

A tense showdown between Harry and his older brother Prince William reportedly spiraled out of control, with Markle snapping at her brother-in-law during the confrontation.

“If you don’t mind, get your finger out of my face,” the “Suits” actress allegedly shot back at William during the explosive exchange, according to Bower.

Queen Camilla then allegedly vented to a friend with a blunt verdict: Markle had “brainwashed” Harry.

William reportedly already warned his younger brother that the whirlwind romance was moving too fast, Bower reported, citing sources.

“It’s gone too quickly,” he reportedly told Harry about his relationship with Markle.

Meanwhile, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, allegedly shared the same concerns, believing Harry might be vulnerable to Markle’s influence.

Bower also claimed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex felt lingering resentment about their place in the royal pecking order — forever destined to be “spares” rather than heirs.

According to the author, Harry eventually became “possessed by seeking revenge.”

The simmering tensions ultimately led to the Sussexes’ dramatic royal exit.

In 2020, Harry and Markle stepped down as senior working royals and left the UK, launching what critics called an all-out media offensive against the monarchy.

From their explosive 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey to Harry’s tell-all memoir “Spare” in 2023, the couple repeatedly aired grievances about palace life.

The duke also stunned viewers with a headline-grabbing interview with the BBC that included more thinly veiled swipes at the royal family.

But there may finally be light at the end of the palace tunnel.

Harry could extend an olive branch by inviting his father, King Charles, to open the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, according to The Sun.

The father and son have had only two brief meetings in recent years, but the invite could see them standing side-by-side on stage as Harry fulfills a longtime dream of having the King launch the event.

Meanwhile, Markle is dealing with fresh headaches of her own.

Last week, Page Six exclusively revealed that Netflix ended its partnership with her lifestyle brand As Ever.

An industry insider told Page Six the collaboration no longer made sense after her planned series “With Love, Markle” failed to move forward.

Still, Markle’s team insists the brand is moving full steam ahead, saying it’s now “ready to stand on its own” with “an exciting year ahead.”

Next up for Markle? A luxury women’s retreat in Australia — where fans can pay up to $2,288 for VIP access.

The pricey getaway will coincide with Harry and Markle’s upcoming Australian tour, which is expected to include private meetings, business appearances and philanthropic events.

And if history’s any guide, the royal drama is far from over. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will visit Australia in April for private and public engagements, with the Duchess attending a luxury weekend retreat in Sydney

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are travelling to Australia next month for a brief unofficial royal visit, where Meghan will be the star attraction at a ‘girls weekend’ retreat in Sydney.

The Duchess of Sussex will deliver speeches throughout the “weekend like no other,” including at a grand dinner, with VIP ticket purchasers also able to secure a photograph with the Duchess.

Supporters have been taken aback by the cost of attending the event, with tickets beginning at a staggering £1,439. This price includes participants’ accommodation at a beachside Sydney hotel and entry to three days of activities, including a gala dinner, yoga and meditation sessions, and a disco celebration.

Those wishing to get even closer to Meghan can buy the VIP experience tickets, which are being offered for £1,705 per person. Alongside the weekend’s activities, this ticket guarantees seating at a table in the front two rows for the gala dinner with Meghan, as well as a group table photograph with the Duchess of Sussex.

This means that for an additional £266 per person, devoted admirers of Meghan can get a group photograph with the Duchess during her rare Sydney visit.

A promotional message about the multi-day event states: “A girls’ weekend like no other! An unforgettable weekend for women ready to reconnect, recharge and have some serious fun. Join us for an intimate luxury weekend by the ocean designed to bring women together for powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter and unforgettable experience.”

The last time the Duchess of Sussex travelled to Australia, she reportedly complained that she wasn’t receiving payment for the walkabouts, according to claims in a royal book. Harry and Meghan were last down under in 2018, where they spent 16 days travelling around Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand on their first royal tour as a married couple, reports the Mirror.

During the tour, huge crowds turned out to see them as they visited the countries and attended an impressive 76 engagements. A book written by former The Times’ royal correspondent Valentine Low claims that Meghan “enjoyed the attention” she received but did not understand the point of royal walkabouts.

Mr Low writes in Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown that the Duchess of Sussex showed a “refreshingly informal approach to royal visits” which was “a hit with the Australian public”. However, despite being hailed as an “inspirational role model”, the royal expert revealed that it was a different story behind the scenes.

The book reads: “Although she enjoyed the attention, Meghan failed to understand the point of all those walkabouts, shaking hands with countless strangers.” Quoting unnamed members of staff, the book claims that Meghan was heard saying: “I can’t believe I’m not getting paid for this.”

Meghan isn’t the only one making appearances at high-profile events during their Australian tour, with Prince Harry also delivering a speech at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne. This event is described as a “professional development summit designed to equip leaders, practitioners, and changemakers with the knowledge and tools to create mentally healthy, safe, and high-performing workplaces.”

Tickets for this mental health summit begin at £1,054, with proceeds from ticket sales being donated to Lifeline. Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Harry and Meghan would be visiting Australia for the first time in over seven years, spending time in Sydney and Melbourne in mid-April.

A representative for the couple stated: “Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will visit Australia in mid-April to take part in a number of private, business and philanthropic engagements. Further details will be shared in due course.”

It is understood that their children, Archie and Lilibet, will not accompany them on this trip.

By PATRICK HARRINGTON, UK NEWS REPORTER

Published: 02:23 EDT, 11 March 2026 | Updated: 03:03 EDT, 11 March 2026

Former royal butler says the ‘Fab Four’ relationship soured in the months before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties in January 2020

The “turning point” in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship with the royal family occurred just before the couple announced they were departing for the US, an expert has claimed. It is believed “something must have happened” prior to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex making the shocking announcement in January 2020.

Grant Harrold, a former royal butler, suggested the pair enjoyed a positive relationship with the Prince and Princess of Wales until they stepped back from The Firm, when they were dubbed the “Fab Four”. However, it was reportedly during the months leading up to their announcement that their relationship appeared to deteriorate.

Mr Harrold explained: “We saw William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan do so many things together initially, but the turning point was a few months before the announcement that they were stepping away from royal duties. They were doing events in the summer prior to that, so something must have happened in between.”

Speaking on behalf of OLBG, Mr Harrold stated Prince William was “genuinely happy” his brother had found someone. Images captured of the four together in 2019, including a photograph at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, showed just how close they had been.

Nevertheless, he says “something must have happened” before Harry and Meghan departed the UK. In a statement issued when they made this choice, the couple said: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution

“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.”

It’s understood that Harry and Meghan did not consult Queen Elizabeth or the then-Prince Charles before releasing their shocking statement in early 2020, reports the Mirror. Since then, the Duke of Sussex, 41, has told The Telegraph: “I don’t think he fully appreciated the impact the statement would have in terms of them not consulting the Queen. He regrets that.”

The startling announcement from Harry and Meghan prompted the Queen to release her own statement, confirming that the couple were no longer “full-time working members of the royal family”.

In her statement, she expressed that she would have “preferred” for the Sussexes to remain. She conceded that she understood their decision and supported their “wish to live a more independent life as a family whilst remaining a valued part of my family”.

The Duchess of Edinburgh’s Kenyan tour has officially gotten underway, with a joyful Sophie captured dancing with women at beads workshop in Nairobi.

Sophie, 61, has embarked on a two-day trip across the East African country to highlight the vital role of women in both peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

On the first day of her visit the Duchess met with Kenya’s President, William Ruto, at the State House in Nairobi to discuss the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership.

Sophie attended a lunch with leading businesswomen from the British Chamber of Commerce Kenya (BCCK) and also a Women In Leadership reception, hosted by Acting British High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr Ed Barnett.

Earlier that day, the passionate Duchess showcased her dance abilities during a trip to the Kazuri Beads workshop – as she enjoyed traditional music with the talented women who run the thriving local business.

The joyful moment delighted many royal fans who took to Instagram to praise ‘lovely’ Sophie for ‘making royalty look easy’.

‘Wonderful Duchess,’ commented one user, before adding: ‘Others should take note, that’s a real Duchess’. Meanwhile, another added: ‘I love how she gives everything a go’.

It comes as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry embarked on their two-day quasi-royal tour of Jordan at the invitation of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

As part of their Middle East trip, the pair have visited Za’atari Refugee Camp and the Specialty Hospital in Amman, alongside a rehabilitation centre for recovering addicts.

According to a royal expert, Sophie’s ‘remarkable’ advocacy work could have been replicated by Meghan, a passionate feminist, had she remained a senior working member of the Royal Family.

Richard Fitzwilliams previously told The Daily Mail: ‘Sophie has influence in ways that really matter, which Meghan could have been.

‘It does involve compromise, but think what could have been achieved for an important cause she claims is so dear to her heart.’

Mr Fitzwilliams added that Sophie has ‘proved she’s the Royal Family’s champion of women rights’ through her continued commitment to advocating for women’s issues and conflict-related sexual violence, amongst other causes.

Since the onset of her royal career, the Duchess of Edinburgh has deliberately focused her charity work around the importance of raising awareness of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and has championed the UN’s Women, Peace and Security Agenda. 

Meghan, meanwhile, has also been unafraid to speak on important public matters and was insistent that when she joined the Royal Family she would be continuing her advocacy work in her new role. 

In 2015, before she began dating Prince Harry, Meghan gave a keynote address on gender equality for UN Women in New York.

She received a standing ovation from guests including Ban Ki-moon, then UN secretary-general. 

Then in 2018, Meghan went off-script at the Royal Foundation Forum and spoke about women’s empowerment.

She said: ‘Women don’t need to find a voice because they have a voice, they need to be empowered to use it and people need to be encouraged to listen.’

Mr Fitzwilliams explained: ‘In her visits to Rwanda in 2016 and India in 2017 and in a memorable speech to the United Nations International Women’s Day Conference in 2015, she campaigned for equal opportunities.

‘She stressed this in her visits to the Antipodes and South Africa when she and Harry were still senior working members of the royal family.’

Meghan herself declared at the time: ‘With fame comes opportunity, but it also includes responsibility – to advocate and share, to focus less on glass slippers and more on pushing through glass ceilings.’

She previously insisted that it is essential to use one’s voice to advocate for change and that ‘hashtags are not enough’.

Sophie’s trip to Kenya came after a rare two-day visit to Somalia at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to draw attention to violence against women and how women can help to enhance peace and resillience. 

As part of her visit to the war-torn nation, Sophie met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Villa Somalia to discuss how women can help to enhance peace and resilience across communities.

She was later joined by first daughter Jihan Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to meet survivors of gender and sexual-based violence perpetuated by al-Shabaab militants, and received briefings from key local partners about the prevalence of SGBV.

During a visit to a Somali village in Lower Shabelle, the empathetic duchess spoke with the wives of Somali soldiers about the risk of violence and the array of personal challenges they face.

The following day, Sophie held a meeting at the British Embassy with Somali organisations and partners to discuss the array of gender-based challenges exacerbated by conflict, drought and a lack of resources.

She later visited a hospital in central Mogadishu to learn about the devastating impact of female genital mutilation, rape and sexual assault on Somali women and the role a UK-funded service programme has played in strengthening service delivery.

Sophie’s east-Africa regional tour is seen as an ongoing commitment to her pledge to raise awareness of the issue of sexual violence. 

In recent years the King’s sister-in-law, who is married to his brother, Prince Edward, has travelled to current and former war zones including Chad, the Congo, Kosovo, South Chad, Lebanon and Sierra Leone.

She has devoted much of her latter working life as a royal to supporting the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and is passionate about championing gender equality.

In April 2024, Sophie bravely denounced Putin’s forces for using rape as weapon of war as she became the first British royal to visit Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

In October, the royal visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to ‘shine a light’ on the ‘weaponisation of rape’.

During her three-day visit, she met female peacebuilders working at the grassroots level to highlight their efforts supporting local peace initiatives and witnessed the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict, particularly on women and girls.

In June, the duchess spoke passionately about her campaign to highlight the plight of victims of sexual violence and insisted that the country ‘must do better’.

At the UK’s first exhibition dedicated to the subject, Sophie, who made the visit ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, declared that the topic was woefully ‘under-discussed’.

The duchess spoke movingly about a visit she had made to Kosovo in 2019 and how deeply moved she had been when speaking to women about the ‘shame and stigma’ they experienced as a result of being brutalised.

Many fathers in their 40s take to setting up a sanctuary, or ‘man cave’, in the house – and it seems that royalty is no different, as yesterday Prince Harry offered an insight into his personal office nook.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Meghan Markle shared a clip of herself gifting her husband one of her As Ever chocolate bars before Valentine’s Day – and offered fans a glimpse of his custom set-up.

A beaming Prince Harry sat at a desk with a laptop balanced on a stack of books, while behind him sat a framed image of two pandas, a model helicopter and a partially-concealed poster where just the word ‘Papa’ was visible.

There was also huge, ornate candles, various pieces of artwork and a diffuser – while military badges, framed and protected in glass, featured prominently.

And at Harry’s feet was a very helpful office worker – the couple’s beagle, Mia, who was lounging around on a dog bed.

Read on to explore the selection of customised decorations and trinkets on show in the Duke’s personal hub…

1. Painting of two pandas

Amid the helicopter and badges, eagle-eyed onlookers may have spotted an image of two pandas surrounded by a dark oval frame on Harry’s white cabinet.

While it is perhaps hard to decipher the specific meaning behind the panda painting, it may hold links to Harry’s appearance on the popular US talk show Jimmy Fallon in September 2024.

The episode of the Tonight Show saw the prince walk through a ‘haunted maze’ with the host as part of his Halloween experience.

At one stage, the prince screamed and swore when he mistook a woman with white makeup and black rings around her eyes for a panda.

The woman, equipped with a knife, said ‘hello’ to the Duke before revealing he was actually staring at a reflection of her as she ran around the corner attempting to thrust the knife towards him.

In response, Prince Harry let out a mighty scream and swore, before Fallon chimed in and mocked him, saying: ‘You’re afraid of pandas,’ to which the Duke replied, ‘No! I’m not, I’m not.’

Perhaps the panda portrait was a humorous gift from Fallon to remind his royal guest of that terrifying moment or, rather, Meghan’s lighthearted way of poking fun at her skittish husband.

2. Model helicopter

It’s no secret that the prince is a firm fan of flying, with Harry first awarded his helicopter wings in 2010 before later going on to serve in the Army as an Apache helicopter pilot.

During his 2012 tour of Afghanistan, Harry helped provide helicopter support to the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan forces operating throughout Helmand province.

It therefore seems fitting that his man cave also features a mini helicopter replica.

The Prince previously described how his military career ‘saved him’ after the death of Princess Diana, by helping him ‘turn his pain into purpose’.

During an interview with US host Anderson Cooper in early 2024, Harry said he was a ‘really good candidate for the military’ because he was a ‘young man in his 20s’ who was ‘suffering from shock’.

He continued: ‘But then I was in the front seat of an Apache shooting it, flying it, monitoring four radios simultaneously, and being there to save and help anybody that was on the ground with a radio screaming, “We need support, we need air support.” That was my calling. I felt healing from that weirdly.’

3. Ergonomic office chair and footstool

As Harry joyfully received his chocolate gift from Meghan, the prince appeared to be sat in a grey ergonomic office chair fit with a footstool for extra comfort.

The sophisticated chair, which also features arm rests on both sides, will likely have been a deliberate choice by the prince to help mitigate any chance of back pain, particularly given his previous history of injury.

In May 2015, Harry suffered from a back injury after he fell from his horse during a polo game which required urgent treatment on the pitch.

While Harry was determined to continue playing, he was later seen holding his lower back in agony and stretching in a bid to ease the pain following the injury.

The prince, who is an avid fan of polo, has also been pictured falling of a horse on numerous other occasions, leaving many royal fans worried that he may suffer long-term damage to his back.

4. ‘Papa’ poster

Like many proud fathers, Prince Harry’s love for his children was also made clear in his décor choices- with a heartwarming print with the word ‘PAPA’ on the front spotted on the partially concealed display in the background.

It’s possible the father-of-two may have been gifted the sweet print by his wife, on behalf of their children Prince Archie, six, or Princess Lilibet, four – and clearly highlights their close bond as a family.

Before the birth of his first child in May 2019, Harry had long spoken publicly about his desire to be a father and how becoming a ‘fun’ uncle to his brother, Prince William’s children had made him yearn for a family of his own.

When Harry was asked what he loves most about fatherhood during an interview in 2022, his heartwarming response was clear.

‘All of it’, he told NBC’s Hoda Kotb.

Beaming, the Duke added: ‘I love it. I love every part of it. I’ve always wanted to be a dad,’ he said. ‘I’ve always wanted to have my own kids and now I have got two little people who I’m responsible for.’

5. Miscellaneous artwork

Against the more personalised pieces, a number of miscellaneous displays of artwork can also be seen on proud display in Harry’s ‘man cave’ – including a blue image with a golden frame and a red floral card.

It’s no secret that the prince is an avid fan of artwork, having famously gifted Meghan with a romantic painting titled Everybody Needs Somebody To Love by British artist Van Donna in 2016.

The extravagant piece, estimated to cost in the thousands, is made up of a black stencil image of a boy and a girl and was purchased by the prince at London’s Walton Fine Arts Gallery.

According to reports by People, the prince had told a local collector that he was looking for a gift for an ‘important person’.

6. Harry’s military badges

On proud display on the prince’s large cabinet are a collection of Ukrainian Armed Forces unit badges and chevrons – a fond tribute to his support for the war-torn nation in their fight against Russia.

The badges were a special gift to the prince from members of Team Ukraine during the Invictus Games in Vancouver in February 2025.

The multitude of badges on display include the Marine Corps, Air Assault Forces, the third Assault Brigade, the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps, the National Police Assault Brigade, alongside several others.

A Ukrainian National Guard ‘Rubizh’ Brigade badge was also visible in the background of Meghan’s video which holds particular poignance for the prince.

During the February 2025 Invictus Games, the prince wore the patch of the Ukrainian National Guard’s 4th ‘Rubizh’ Brigade on his jacket – a clear signal of his solidarity with the country.

The prince has previously been incredibly vocal about his support for the war-torn nation and in September declared that he would do ‘everything possible’ to help Ukrainian soldiers and injured service personnel during a surprise trip to Kyiv.

7. White furniture

Keeping to the theme of their airy, cosy Montecito home, the Duke of Sussex looks to have kept on theme with white storage drawers in the background of his little nook – featuring a granite-style shelf to display the miscellaneous framed memorabilia. 

8. Dark brown desk

To contrast the all-white and cream furnishings, the Prince opted for a dark brown, wooden desk – which stands out in the otherwise lightened space.

9. Mia the beagle

While the prince may have been hard at work in his man cave, he was certainly not alone – his beloved rescue beagle Mamma Mia was curled up underneath his desk.

Harry and Meghan rescued 10-year-old Mia from an animal testing centre in Virginia in 2022, with the adorable pooch an integral member of the Sussexes family – even appearing as part of their 2024 festive greetings card.

And in a rather cute twist, Mia was spotted in the video fast asleep in the same wooden dog bed which belonged to Harry and Meghan’s former beagle, Guy, who sadly died in early 2025.

Meghan adopted Guy when she was living in Toronto and working as an actress. She brought him to the UK when she married Harry in 2018.

The sweet pup was spotted chewing on a dog biscuit in the rustic bed which now lives in Harry’s man cave during a trailer for the Duchess’s Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, in January 2025.

10. His wife’s chocolate

The centrepiece of the clip, of course, was Meghan’s As Ever chocolate.

The Duke of Sussex had a grin ear-to-ear as his wife sauntered over with a box of the treats, which she first released last year. 

In the video, Meghan approached Harry and handed over the chocolate – to which the Prince said ‘Oh’ before turning his response into an ‘Oooh’ and picking out a bar.

A beaming Harry looked at the camera – holding up the bar – and said ‘yes please’ before proceeding to hand back the box. 

He then said ‘love you’, with a cheeky smile still on his face.

The bars of chocolate – which sold out within minutes following their initial release – use Meghan’s ‘signature ingredients’ from her As Ever brand such as raspberry spread and flower sprinkles, to ‘spark a little sweet nostalgia’.

Festive flavours on offer include dark chocolate with raspberry spread and sea salt, white chocolate topped with flower sprinkles and hemp hearts and milk chocolate with shortbread cookies and bee pollen.

For the project, Meghan linked up with renowned chocolatier Jonathan Grahm of Compartés to create ‘the most coveted set of the season’ – marketing at $12 a pop.

11. Candles

As Meghan panned away from her husband, she showed more décor on Harry’s desk – which included two huge candles, in equally sizeable candle-holders which appear to be made of wood. 

One was darker in tone while a second, made of bleached wood, was also shown in the video. 

His wife Meghan also sells candles in her As Ever range – so it’s no surprise they’re a welcome addition around the house.

12. Diffuser

Adding to the candles, a diffuser also sat on Prince Harry’s desk.

The scented reeds were placed inside a dark grey, artisanal holder which complemented the dark shade of Harry’s desk, in contrast to the all-white furniture around.