THE COLD WAR

A book by Tom Bower casts new light on the bitter battle between Sussexes and the royal family - and Harry and Meghan don't come out of it well

IT DROPS one bombshell after the other, painting a grim picture of her as a manipulative social climber and him as a bitter sidelined prince with little more than contempt for his family.

Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War between the Windsors is writer and former BBC journalist Tom Bower's 452-page take on the Sussexes and their fallout with the Firm.

The book has been criticised in some quarters for being one-sided and Bower admits he didn't speak to many people in Harry and Meghan's camp. But it wasn't for lack of trying, he claims.

"They told [their friends and staff members] not to speak to me," he says.

"So it was quite an uphill struggle but I found enough people more than enough, nearly 80 people - to talk.

"I didn't put in stuff which isn't true and can't be checked, he said on UK breakfast show Good Morning Britain.

"And also, I had some admiration for Meghan she's succeeded quite well in her life and ambitions, so I was able to balance it all.

He also believes the book "may hasten the downward trend" of Meghan and Harry. "And over that I wouldn't be sad at all because they pose a real threat to the royal family.

In this extract, he delves into the days after Prince Philip passed away and Harry and Meghan's trip to the UK for the queen's platinum jubilee.

PRINCE Philip's funeral was set for 17 April. Neither the palace nor the media understood the Sussexes' mindset when Harry arrived in London just before the service.

The mood in London was sombre. Daily the media extolled Philip's remarkable life and devotion to the country. The duke had planned a simple funeral at St George's Chapel, Windsor. The rehearsals displayed faultless military drill.