The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have accused royal author Tom Bower of promoting “deranged conspiracy and melodrama” in his new biography.

In excerpts published by ‘The Times’ on Friday, Bower claims Queen Camilla told a friend that Meghan had “brainwashed” Prince Harry. The author also described Meghan as a “divisive agent” and suggested that Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, viewed her as a threat.

Responding on Saturday, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan said Bower had “long crossed the line from criticism into fixation” and accused him of building “elaborate theories about people he does not know and has never met.” The statement added: “Those interested in facts will look elsewhere; those seeking deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find him.”

The book, titled ‘Betrayal: Power, Deceit And The Fight For The Future Of The Royal Family’, explores tensions between the Sussexes and the Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as Harry and Meghan’s business and charitable activities since stepping down as senior royals in 2020, including deals with Netflix and Spotify.

Bower claims friction between the siblings escalated before Harry and Meghan left the UK. He suggests William and Catherine were “alarmed” by Meghan and worried she resented Harry’s limited chances of becoming king, just as she regretted not being queen. He also writes that Harry fears losing royal titles and being effectively exiled from Britain.

A section on the Invictus Games refers to media coverage of Harry and Meghan at the veteran-focused sporting event as the “Meghan Games.”

Bower previously authored ‘Revenge: Meghan, Harry, And the War Between the Windsors’, published in 2022.

With inputs from BBC