PRINCE Harry’s autobiography will be seen as criticising Queen Elizabeth II if it contains derogatory tales about the Royal Family, royal expert Nicholas Owen has said.

He commented on reports that the prince is planning to tone down the book, which is part of a deal with publisher Penguin that is rumoured to be worth £40 million.

Asked about publication being seen as disrespectful, he told GB News: “I think that’s absolutely the case.

“I can’t believe, frankly, that Harry and his wife want to sort of ratchet things up. That seems impossible to believe.

“Toning it down or smoothing out some edges, of course, the problem immediately in the rough commercial world of books and publishing generally means it makes it less of an interesting read, so the money we talked about seems absolutely fantastic.”

He added: “Harry must realise that he cannot have a book that is going to sell across the world that criticises the Royal Family in a way that is bound to be seen as criticism of the Queen.

On Times correspondent Valentine Low’s new book, called “Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind The Crown”, Mr Owen said: “He’s an extremely good journalist.

“He’s done some really good work on it and going behind the scenes of what’s really happened with Harry and Megan.

“Some of the stories he tells we kind of knew most of the details, but what it does emphasise to me is just how sad and bitter the splits really are.

“The thing you take away from it all the time, is that it seems to me that Harry or shall we say, Megan, it’s got to choose up, can’t go on like this, you can’t be both in the Royal Family, and then decide that you’re really a sort of commercial animal and you’re going to do what you want to…wanting to be the Beyoncé of the UK.

“Now, that may just be flamming things up a bit but you can’t do that. Sorry, Megan. That’s not on.”

Asked about the new series of The Crown on Netflix, Mr Owen told GB News: “I’m sure it will be very much going to be focusing on this one on Princess Diana.

“Those of us 25 years ago, we will remember the things that happened there. I’m sure the Royal Family will be a bit on edge about it.

“But you know, these things, these things come and go.

“I was recently in the situation of talking to a lot of people involved with the making of The Crown itself.

“The consultants, they’re very pretty careful about what they do. Of course, it’s drama, but they certainly don’t set out to be inaccurate.”