Book Claims Meghan Barred From Balmoral Trip
Meghan Markle was reportedly told she would not travel to Balmoral with Prince Harry on the day Queen Elizabeth II died, according to claims in a new book by royal biographer Mr Tom Bower. The account revisits events on 8 September 2022, when members of the Royal Family rushed to Scotland as the late monarch’s health deteriorated.
Hello Magazine reported that Mr Bower’s book, Betrayal, claims King Charles called Prince Harry to say it was “unacceptable” for the Duchess of Sussex to come to Balmoral, and that her presence was described as “unwelcome” because she had previously refused invitations to visit the Queen there.
The book further alleges the King told the Duke of Sussex that Princess Kate would not be travelling either, and that Prince Harry was “outraged” by the exchange. Mr Bower also claims Prince William left for Scotland without waiting longer, with the narrative placing the disagreement against the backdrop of long-running tensions within the family.
In the same reporting, the Sussexes are quoted as rejecting the author’s claims, with a spokesperson saying Mr Bower’s commentary had crossed from criticism into “fixation”, echoing the couple’s broader pushback against unverified accounts of their private lives, including other book-related allegations such as claims they clashed over their children’s exposure.
Queen Elizabeth II died aged 96 at Balmoral on 8 September 2022, with her funeral held in London on 19 September. The latest claims are likely to add to scrutiny of the Sussexes’ relationship with the Royal Family, though the book’s assertions remain contested by the couple’s representatives.
