Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made themselves look "deeply bothered" by a new explosive royal book after their furious outburst, a PR expert has claimed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a lengthy and fiery statement last weekend, dismissing a number of bombshell claims made in Tom Bower's forthcoming book.

Mr Bower's latest offering, parts of which have been serialised by The Times magazine, makes a number of accusations against the Sussexes, their relationship with the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Invictus Games. Following the publication of the serialised extracts of the new book, the Sussexes' spokesperson released a statement, which read: "Mr Bower's commentary has long crossed the line from criticism into fixation. This is someone who has publicly stated, 'the monarchy in fact depends on actually obliterating the Sussexes from our state of life,' language that speaks for itself.

"He has made a career out of constructing ever more elaborate theories about people he does not know and has never met. Those interested in facts will look elsewhere; those seeking deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find him."

But now a PR expert has condemned the level of detail in the Sussexes' statement and said it makes them look "deeply bothered," which may not work in their favour.

Renae Smith, founder and director of Atticism, told the Daily Express: "I think the detail of the statement is part of the problem.

"If something is genuinely ridiculous and completely fabricated, the strongest response is often either no response at all or a very short and dismissive one."

Ms Smith said that a short statement, if necessary, something along the lines of "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are declining to comment on something so absurd", would have been a better response for the Montcito couple.

She added: "Instead, they went into enough detail that it makes them look deeply bothered.

"And once you do that, you shift the conversation from the book itself to why it upset you so much."

She went on to say that the furious statement showed that Mr Bower had "hit a nerve".

The PR expert explained: "Not necessarily because every claim is true word for word, but because it is clearly close enough to the public narrative around them to sting.

"When public figures engage this heavily with criticism, people do not usually think, well that settles it, they must be innocent.

"They usually think, hmm, there must be something in there."

Following their outburst, Mr Bower spoke to the Daily Express and said: "The Sussexes are reaching the end of the road in Hollywood.

"Their behaviour, lack of original talent and suffocating self-importance has made it even more important for them to return to Britain in July, meet the King and be revalidated as royals."