Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are thought to have believed they had "Diana's magic", according to claims from an explosive new book.
Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war with the Windsors by Tom Bower claims the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had convinced themselves that they could follow in his mother's footsteps as the public's favourite royals as a result of their Australian tour.
Meghan and Harry embarked on a 16-day tour of Australia, which also took in New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji, to huge fanfare.
The trip was deemed a huge success with the pair visiting Bondi Beach, the Sydney Opera House and appearing at the 2018 Invictus Games, which were taking place in the city.
Bower suggests Harry and Meghan felt they had the qualities to lead the monarchy into a new age after the tour.
The trip kicked off with big news after Bower says Meghan had told some members of the royal family that she was pregnant during Princess Eugenie’s wedding reception in October 2018, according to an extract from the book reported by The Sun.
On the eve of their first royal tour since their marriage five months earlier, Meghan and Harry confirmed the news to the public on October 15, 2018.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said: "Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that the Duchess is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019.
"Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public."
Harry and Meghan welcomed son Archie in May 2019.
Bower wrote: "The Sussexes had convinced themselves that their Australian success blessed them with Diana’s magic.
"Meghan could not understand that Diana had won the public's affection after years of work.
"Neither she nor Harry could grasp that emulating Diana required time, to weave a narrative and create a brand from which influence would flow."
Harry is alleged to have told Meghan that she "resembled" his late mother, who gained huge support from the Australian public during a royal tour of the country in 1983 alongside the Prince of Wales.
Bower added that Meghan also believed her "activism would enhance the brand" of the Sussexes to gain similar opportunities as Barack and Michelle Obama.
In January 2020, Meghan and Harry announced their intention to step down as senior working royals and move to America to carve out new lives for themselves.
The new book Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsor's by biographer Bower, known for unflinching takes on his subjects, will draw on “interviews from insiders who have never spoken before”, according to publicity material.
Bombshells according to Bower include that the Queen didn't want Meghan at Philip's funeral, the Sussexes "festered with fury" after Jubilee plans were blocked and details of the furore following Meghan's Vanity Fair front cover.
