Meghan Markle has been the subject of one smear campaign after another in recent years.
Some of these — such as the bogus investigation into Meghan’s “bullying” of palace staffers — have originated within the royal family.
But most of the attempts to slander the Duchess and destroy her hard-earned reputation come to us from the pit of vipers that is the British tabloid media.
And now, one self-proclaimed journalist has said the quiet part out loud by declaring that he wrote his new book with the intention of bringing about Meghan’s downfall.
The “journalist” is Tom Bower, and the book is Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War between the Windsors.
The book won’t hit stores in America until Friday, but it’s already making headlines thanks to some controversial excerpts that have appeared online.
Earlier this week, we discussed some of the more scandalous claims Bower makes in his book, including the allegation that Prince Harry’s friends warned him against marrying Meghan.
Bower also alleges that the Queen loudly declared that she was happy that Meghan skipped Prince Philip’s funeral.
Because, ya know, 96-year-old monarchs are known for their brazen displays of pettiness.
While promoting the book, Bower has made numerous bold claims about the impact his latest mudslinging will have upon the Duchess’ reputation.
And not surprisingly, he made his most ridiculous boasts during an interview with fellow slimy British toadman, Piers Morgan.
“Are they in trouble now though? Is the Sussex brand on the downward slope?” Morgan asked Bower at one point.
“A lot of American friends of mine are completely done with them, which they weren’t even a year ago,” Morgan continued, doing the classic, Trumpian “many people are saying” thing, where he presents an anecdotal claim with no evidence to back it up.
It’s a question that shouldn’t be taken seriously, but Bower is not a serious journalist, so he eagerly jumped on it.
“And this book may hasten the downward trend, over which I wouldn’t be sad at all because they pose a real threat to the royal family,” he replied to his fellow lizard person.
It might sound like Bower is one of those royal traditionalists who slanders Meghan as a means of defending her in-laws, but really, he’s just a guy who’s looking to make a buck by talking a lot of trash.
His previous book, a biography of Prince Charles, was just as loaded with ridiculous claims and weird, misguided rage.
“Tom Bower is the undisputed Witchfinder General of contemporary biographers. Before his next subject is led quivering into the dock, Bower tends to don his black cap, just to save time,” the esteemed journalist and author Craig Brown wrote in a review of Bower’s book about Charles.
“This year’s accused is Prince Charles. A handy summary of the charges against him can be obtained by turning to ‘Charles, Prince of Wales’ in the book’s index, and then looking under ‘Character.'”
“The categories listed are: refusal to accept blame; self-doubt; disloyalty; victims of; dislike of criticism/dissenting views; scapegoats; self-pity; intolerance/bad temper; sense of superiority; grudges; selfishness; resentment of Diana; derogatory comments about Diana; on himself; discourteousness. Not a single redeeming characteristic is allowed a look-in.”
You get the idea.
Vitriol and outrage are Bower’s business, and business is clearly booming.
Not surprisingly, people who are cited as sources in Bower’s book about Meghan have already come forward to complain that the author was unethical in his methods, often using out-of-context quotes to bolster his central arguments.
“I’m afraid Tom Bower didn’t convey my admiration and respect for Meghan Markle in the excerpt from his new book in The Times on Saturday,” wrote Vanity Fair contributing editor Sam Kashner in a letter to The Times of London.
“I found Ms. Markle to be exceptionally warm and gracious and admired her intelligence and her remarkable courage, as I still do.”
Bower attempted to create the impression that Kashner had been “manipulated” by Meghan when she served as guest editor of the magazine.
Ironically, it seems that Bower is the one who’s been doing the manipulating.
We expect that several other sources will come forward to cry foul after Bower’s book hits shelves later this week.