Meghan Markle's fury at the damning revelations about her in a new royal book is exemplified by the punchy statement issued by her spokesperson just hours after the first serialisation was published by The Times on Friday evening. The official lashed out at author Tom Bower for having "long crossed the line from criticism into fixation" and for making "a career out of constructing ever more elaborate theories about people he does not know and has never met".

The spokesperson added: "Those interested in facts will look elsewhere; those seeking deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find him."

Such a bolshy response to Bower's latest book, Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, has clearly ruffled feathers in Montecito. The first extract includes a litany of eyebrow-raising claims against both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but the majority of grenades are thrown firmly in Meghan's direction.

The author writes that Camilla told a friend shortly after their wedding that "Meghan's brainwashed Harry".

Other eye-opening claims include the Prince and Princess of Wales's mistrust of the "American actress". They feared she was unhappy at the realisation that at sixth in line to the throne (as he was before the Queen's death in 2022). Harry would be unlikely to ever become king, meaning she would never be the queen.

She is described as "divisive", scheming and manipulative, encouraging her husband to cut ties with his pals, distance himself from his family and take on personal vendettas.

The author writes: "William's original fears were soon realised. Meghan had become a divisive agent. To please her, Harry was ignoring his old friends. He even changed his telephone number without telling his family. The jovial lad about town became possessed by seeking revenge. Increasingly, his character mirrored Meghan's. Emotionally, he veered towards extremes. Simple dislikes became passionate hatred."

And in a third extract published on Monday, the author claims the charity's co-founder was left furious when she gave a speech all about herself.

In short, Bower portrays Meghan as a right b***h, who has sunk her claws into her husband and continues to rinse him for his royal title and connections.

It's certainly an unflattering portrait from an author who has made a career out of dishing the dirt on his subjects. The list includes Tony Blair, Richard Branson, Boris Johnson, and Sir David and Victoria Beckham.

Bower has written about the royals before, too, including a book on the King and another unflattering tome on Harry and Meghan, titled Revenge.

His first book on the troublesome couple, published two years after Megxit, painted a picture of tensions between Meghan and William and Catherine long before their royal split.

Meghan is depicted as a merciless opportunist who sought to use Harry for her own personal gain. She's portrayed as shallow, and all her relationships are merely transactional.

The Duchess was said to have been hurt by the book, with sources describing it as "very nasty and uncalled for".

But it's worth noting that the litigation-happy couple did not file a lawsuit against the author. Only time will tell if the Sussexes decide the line has been crossed this time, I'm sure their spokesperson will be only too happy to announce that legal action has been mounted.