Tom Bower - Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsors

REVENGE

Published by Blink Publishing,

an imprint of Bonnier Books UK

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Hardback: 978-1-78870-503-5

Trade paperback: 978-1-78870-586-8

Ebook: 978-1-78870-588-2

Audio: 978-1-78870-589-9

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Text copyright Tom Bower 2022

The right of Tom Bower to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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Blink Publishing is an imprint of Bonnier Books UK

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To Tom Mangold

Also by Tom Bower

Blind Eye to Murder: Britain, America and the Purging of Nazi Germany A Pledge Betrayed

Klaus Barbie: Butcher of Lyon

The Paperclip Conspiracy: The Battle for the Spoils And Secrets of Nazi Germany Red Web: MI6 and the KGB Master Group

Maxwell: The Outsider

Tiny Rowland: A Rebel Tycoon

The Perfect English Spy: Sir Dick White and the Secret War 193590

Heroes of World War II

Maxwell: The Final Verdict

Nazi Gold: The Full Story of the Fifty-Year Swiss-Nazi Conspiracy to Steal Billions from Europes Jews and Holocaust Survivors

Blood Money: The Swiss, the Nazis and the Looted Billions Fayed: The Unauthorized Biography

Branson

The Paymaster: Geoffrey Robinson, Maxwell and New Labour

Broken Dreams: Vanity, Greed and the souring of British Football

Gordon Brown: Prime Minister

Conrad and Lady Black: Dancing on the Edge

The Squeeze: Oil, Money & Greed in the 21st Century

No Angel: The Secret Life of Bernie Ecclestone

Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell

Branson: Behind the Mask

Broken Vows: Tony Blair The Tragedy of Power

Rebel Prince: The Power, Passion and Defiance of Prince Charles

Dangerous Hero: Corbyns Ruthless Plot for Power

Boris Johnson: The Gambler

Contents

She had arrived. She was in the spotlight. The excited crowd cheered and some screamed. Dozens of lenses zoomed in and shutters clicked. Dignitaries bowed and some fawned. Helicopters buzzed overhead. Bodyguards hovered. Police were everywhere. Unexpectedly, Meghan-mania exploded. Finally, Meghan Markle was idolised. Her lifelong ambition was being fulfilled.

On a frosty morning on 1st December, 2017, the television star glowed. Just as her new fianc promised, she had inherited the iconic mantle of his mother, Princess Diana. From the moment she stepped out of the gleaming black Range Rover at 11:05am, the British showed their love for the 36-year-old American actress.

Nottingham is a city 130 miles north of London, famous for its associations with the Robin Hood legend. It was an unusual choice of location to introduce Meghan Markle as the Royal Familys latest member. The East Midlands city could not rival Californias sun-kissed beaches, but that was a temporary irrelevance for the citizen from Los Angeles during her slow 400-yard walk through the Lace Market towards the civic centre.

Its warmer over there, she laughingly agreed with Cori Burns, one of a thousand people who had waited for two hours. From her pocket, Meghan thrust a handwarmer to an Australian student who had complained of the cold.

Nearby, Harrys smile was irrepressible. Meghans hand frequently rubbed his back and squeezed his elbow. Her constant smile and animated greetings were examples of Hollywood at its best. A brief kiss by the couple sparked hysteria. Theirs, agreed the onlookers, was a match made in heaven.

Flowers, cards, a teddy bear, chocolates, two fridge-magnets and bags of local memorabilia were thrust at the visitors. Meghan came over and I just put my arms around her, swooned 81-year-old Irene Hardman, a royal super-fan. Its so lovely to meet you, Hardman told the future duchess. Im sure you are going to have a lovely life with him. Look after him for us.

Youre so sweet, replied Meghan, unaware that her hugs and poses for selfies were banned by royal etiquette. I cried afterwards, admitted Hardman. Shes wonderful. Theyre so genuine.

Shes seems like such a lovely, lovely person, Sian Roberts gushed to a NBC News camera. I think shes going to be a really good thing for the Royal Family. Close by, an ABC News reporter was babbling about pop-star frenzy. Unsurprisingly, many Americans were fascinated by their new association with the Crown.

Even Raushana Nurzhubalina, a student from Kazakhstan, was mesmerised. She had set her alarm-clock for 6am to get a prime spot. Its such a honour to see the royals, she told BBC TV. Im also a fan of Suits, so its a chance to see a star of that, too.

We need magic at the moment, an admirer shouted at a journalist as the confident American and Harry greeted the Acting Lady Mayoress, Bell Edis. Im sure you could be the Peoples Princess, said the 70-year-old civic leader. Harry, Edis noticed, chuckled and smiled with his cheeky grin. Id said the right thing.

Congratulations! shouted a group of women. Four days earlier, the couple had announced their engagement. Breaking tradition, the Queen had agreed Meghan should be fast-tracked into The Firm. This is the country thats going to be her home now, said the princes spokesman, Jason Knauf. That means travelling around, getting to know the towns and cities. The visit to Nottingham was the beginning of a six-month tour of Britain.

Britains tabloid journalists noted Meghans trendy clothes: a Canadian navy-blue cashmere coat, an Austrian black turtleneck, a British beige chino skirt and boots, and a Scottish tote bag. Just how you would imagine a modern princess to look, swooned a fashion aficionado. Hours after the list of her outfits was published, their manufacturers reported a sell-out of stocks. That news pleased Jessica Mulroney, Meghans Canadian stylist and friend. And a creative director of a London designer said Meghans personal style has an effortless ease that personifies her character. Inevitably, commentators compared Meghan with the Duchess of Cambridge. Kate came off unfavourably.

During that day, all the boxes were ticked. Visits to an HIV centre, an institute giving health information to local Africans, a group providing advice on nutrition, and Nottingham Contemporary, a centre for love, life and health. The itinerary foreshadowed the routine life Meghan could expect as a member of the Royal Family. AIDS sufferers, Meghan was reminded, were a particular target of Dianas charity work. Following in Dianas footsteps was particularly important for both Harry and Meghan.

After nightfall the couple were back in Kensington Palace, sleeping in Harrys home, which was appropriately called Nottingham Cottage. Meghan voiced no regrets or foreboding about her new life. On the contrary, she was thrilled. For years, her destiny had been to be distinct from the crowd. Repeatedly frustrated after leaving college, she was never deterred by failure. Now her tenacity had been rewarded. Her lucky break had miraculously materialised. Marrying an English prince was an unexpected prize for someone seeking the American Dream to rise from obscurity to respectable prosperity.