Lady Colin Campbell’s updated book, Meghan and Harry, The Real Story: Persecutors or Victims, has brought to readers new facts and stories since the original book was published in 2021. Since that time, many things have come to light regarding the stories the couple have told and the activities in which they have participated. Instead of simply adding extra chapters, Lady C weaves in new information with the old, a time-consuming task she has admitted took her ten months to complete.
The romance between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle caught the attention of the world. Finally Charles and Diana’s youngest son had found someone with whom to share his life. He was anxious to do so and as the book points out, he had had a couple serious relationships but neither of those young women wanted to commit to him and all that came with marrying into the Royal family. They were independent and intelligent women who saw the flaws in Harry and didn’t want to put up with him and his behavior.
Since leaving the Royal family the couple has told many stories that have been changed through the years and proven false. The first was the notorious lie that the Royal family were racists. On the contrary, as Lady C points out, the fact that Meghan is bi-racial was a plus. Even though the background checks on her had shown her to be less than stellar, according to Lady C, “Her bi-racial identity was an answer to the family’s prayers.” With the Commonwealth made up mostly of people of color, having Meghan on the team looked like a great opportunity to raise the affection for the British monarchy. An institution headed by an exclusively white family when most of the people were people of color, was something the monarchy was all too aware. Therefore, Meghan was just what was needed to give the Commonwealth a shot in the arm. But they (the family and the Commonwealth) soon regretted it.
The contradictions to many of the stories the couple has volunteered over the years, beginning with their famous engagement interview, have led people to think carefully about what they say. Their lies are abundant, and the book points them out so readers can recognize the truth from fiction.
Another interesting aspect of the book is the part where the author looks at Meghan’s childhood and the absence of her mother during many of those years. This is a curious look at where her mother might have spent those years and why. Lady C has done her homework and put on her detective hat to uncover several aspects of the lives of those involved in this real life soap opera.
Meghan’s former close friend Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne has said that prior to Meghan’s meeting with Harry, she admitted she googled him and knew everything about him. That statement alone nullifies Meghan’s assertion that she knew nothing about the royals or Harry before she met him, which she famously stated in the engagement interview.
Lady Colin Campbell also reiterates what she has said in many instances and that is the fact that a child who loses a parent before the age of fourteen has more emotional turmoil than older children. And Harry himself has said that he had not worked through the trauma by the time he met Meghan. This was an opening for her to reach that immature man and form him to suit her goals.
Yet another interesting part of the book is the focus on the “gestation” of the children and the altering of Archie’s birth certificate, which Meghan claimed she was forced to do by the palace. That was a lie. And as Lady C touches on throughout the pages of this enlightening book, Meghan is calculating and conniving to cover her tracks. The book points out how Meghan basically went out of her way to wear clothes that accentuated her “bump” and was always clutching it to bring attention to the supposed fact that she was carrying a royal baby. With all the secrecy about the births of the two children and the way Meghan acted while she was supposedly pregnant with Archie, not to mention the changing bump, Lady C delves into this aspect completely and rather well. She also discusses the legitimacy needed to be in the line of succession. So far, there has been no confirmation about the “legitimacy” of the two children. As she writes, the birth announcement of Lily from Buckingham Palace states the baby had been born “for” the couple. That alone leaves plenty of room for doubt about the legitimacy of the little girl. These troublesome aspects of their births will follow those kids throughout their lives.
Meghan’s obsession with Diana, is something she shares with Harry. Was she angling to be the next “Princess Di?” The book states she wanted to be bigger than Diana. As Harry stated, “What Meghan wants, Meghan gets,” and although Lady C does not connect this statement directly to her “closeness” to his mother, could that be what was behind this outlandish order?
Stories about the wedding and the wedding breakfast shine a massive spotlight on Meghan’s rude behavior. Her self-centered and narcissistic personality has her believing the world is in love with her. Meghan and Harry were soon believing that William and Catherine were jealous of them. That is another falsehood, which anyone in their the author says is preposterous. Perhaps, on Harry’s side, it was because William had cautioned him against rushing into the marriage. But for Meghan, she has always seen herself as someone above the crowd and who deserves the jealousy and adoration of the world.
In the book Lady C inserts statements by other royals about Meghan’s behavior and how she did not fit in or want to fit into the role into which she married. This woman had the world at her feet but stomped on everyone who didn’t live up to or recognize her overly important image of herself.
The aspect of privacy is covered as the couple has no compunction about exposing secrets of others yet throw fits when their own privacy is invaded. The public has seen this over and over, with their TV interviews, the “show” on Netflix, and books.
The book looks at how the couple uses their “friends” to disseminate their propaganda about their relationship and to spread rumors about their families.
The Archewell Foundation, Meghan’s desire to go into politics, their desire to be rich and famous (although they are now infamous), Harry’s court cases, Harry’s vendetta against the British press, and much more are covered in this all-inclusive look at the couple who left their responsibilities, families, and the truth behind in search of riches, fame, and glory.
Lady C writes, “An undisciplined and destructive player who breaks rank will therefore ultimately be nothing but a force for destruction for the royal family concerned.” That statement sums up the whole Meghan/Harry situation.
One of the tidbits pointed out in the book is the fact that Canada did not want to be home to a working member of the royal family. The country was a pit stop for the Sussexes as California was always the destination Meghan had set for them. While they were getting their situation with the family organized, the Queen was careful about how everything played out due to possible future members of the family deciding to exit their responsibilities as Harry and Meghan did.
The couples’ engagements, speeches, “awards” for who knows what, and their constant swipes at the UK, the British press, and their own families are laid out from cover to cover. This book is indeed a very comprehensive look at what the world has been witnessing and slowing uncovering as both Harry and Meghan continue to be a stain on their families histories, and a disappointment to the people of the United Kingdom. Lady C’s writing is unmatched when it comes to setting out all the things the two have done and said since they met. What readers must do is look at the words she uses, and also read between the lines. As a confidante of many in the know, she manages to get the information to the public in a very intelligent way without compromising the sources.
Reading this book is like opening the window and seeing what has happened as a result of Harry meeting Meghan. While many people were initially excited about their union, including Lady C herself, the couple has managed to destroy all the good feelings people had for them and show their personalities for what they are. The title of the book asks, “Persecutors or Victims?” It is evident they are not victims, so they must be the persecutors. There is so much to unpack in this book it is difficult to cover everything in a brief review, other than to say it is a thorough, comprehensive, and enlightening look at this royal drama. Lady Colin Campbell uses facts, quotes, and her own knowledge to let the readers know exactly what is what. And she does it in a way that is fascinating. It’s a must-read for anyone who knows anything about the British royal family or anyone who wants to understand what half of the world is talking about on YouTube and elsewhere.
While this is a fascinating read, it behooves readers to take their time as there is so much to understand. From the first page to the last it is a book that is overflowing with accurate information. Once again Lady Colin Campbell has delivered an honest and insightful book.
About the Reviewer
Francine Brokaw has been covering books, products, travel, and all aspects of entertainment for over 32 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County.
