Prince Harry might be able to rejoin the royal family, but only under one significant condition: arriving without Meghan Markle. This is the remarkable assertion from royal biographer Tom Bower, who shared with The Royalist Podcast in March that the 41-year-old Duke of Sussex confronts an unworkable decision between his spouse and his relatives.
Bower, author of the upcoming book “Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family,” described a grim scenario regarding the Sussexes’ present circumstances. The pair marked their seventh straight Christmas absent from the royal family celebration at Sandringham, separated from both the British monarchy and Meghan’s own disconnected family members.
Bower indicated the duke faces difficulty achieving reconciliation with his relatives following the contents of his memoir. “Harry clearly met his father with the hope that he could ingratiate himself back into the family, but it isn’t going to work,” Bower said. The biographer highlighted what he perceives as Harry’s divided allegiances and his failure to completely dedicate himself to mending the bond.
The remarks came after a short, roughly 55-minute discussion between Harry and King Charles at Clarence House in September 2025, their initial in-person interaction in more than 19 months. The meeting generated optimism among royal observers that reconciliation could be achievable, but those possibilities rapidly disappeared when specifics of the confidential meeting were allegedly disclosed. Harry’s team indicated “sources intent on sabotaging” the reunion were responsible.
Bower disclosed that the Duke of Sussex received a short meeting with his 77-year-old father “by the skin of his teeth” but was told that “not a word must be spoken about it.” The biographer subsequently identified what transpired afterward as proof of Harry’s divided loyalties: journeying to Ukraine by train and discussing with journalists about having no regrets for anything he said in “Spare.”
Harry’s divisive memoir, for which he purportedly obtained a $20 million advance, remains a persistent obstacle to any possible reconciliation. The exposé detailed private family disagreements and confidential exchanges, inflicting damage that Bower believes may be permanent.
The circumstances become more intricate when examining Meghan’s own familial difficulties. The 44-year-old Duchess of Sussex stays disconnected from her father, Thomas Markle Sr., 81, whose bond with his daughter broke down surrounding her 2018 wedding to Harry. Thomas confessed he had deceived Harry regarding arranging paparazzi photographs mere weeks prior to the ceremony.
Meghan allegedly contacted her father through a letter following news about his emergency leg amputation in the Philippines in December 2025. Doctors needed to amputate his left leg below the knee following a blood clot that blocked circulation. Thomas said he was “confused” by claims she had attempted contact, while a hospital source questioned whether the outreach actually happened. From his hospital bed, he conveyed a willingness to reconcile and meet his grandchildren, six-year-old Prince Archie and four-year-old Princess Lilibet.
The couple’s separation reaches beyond familial issues. Bower referenced increasing pressure on Meghan’s professional endeavors, especially her lifestyle brand and television career. Her “With Love, Meghan” series has attracted criticism, with questions swirling about the viability of her entertainment ventures.
Harry himself confronts professional ambiguity. He departed from the Sentebale charity in March 2025 during a hostile disagreement with the organization’s chairwoman—a crushing setback considering he co-founded the HIV/AIDS charity in 2006 to honor Princess Diana’s legacy. With the next Invictus Games not scheduled until Birmingham 2027, his calendar appears notably sparse.
King Charles, who is battling cancer, confronts his own challenges. Bower indicated the monarch’s attention rests elsewhere—on his health, his legacy, and ensuring a smooth transition to Prince William. In this equation, Bower argued, Harry simply gets in the way.
The security matter contributes another dimension of difficulty. Harry has declared he cannot bring his wife and children back to the UK without adequate police protection. Bower rejected this as an excuse, arguing that Harry’s real reluctance stems from his inability to face family members after what he wrote in his memoir.
Bower’s new book guarantees further disclosures, including accusations that Queen Camilla once told a friend Meghan had “brainwashed” her husband. The Sussexes have pushed back hard against the biographer. A spokesperson accused him of peddling “deranged conspiracy and melodrama,” stating that Bower “has long crossed the line from criticism into fixation.”
For now, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain in California, caught between two continents and two families, with no clear path forward.