King Charles has been criticised in a new bombshell book for "dithering" in the wake of scandals surrounding Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Writing in his newly released book, Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, investigative journalist and author Tom Bower suggests that it was only after Prince William "heaped pressure on his father" that any drastic action took place.

Mr Bower says the King was "dithering" and in charge of a "seemingly rudderless court that was ill-equipped to manage his brother". He adds that when "William heaped pressure on his father", Andrew finally surrendered his titles - meaning he would no longer be styled as Prince or the Duke of York.

The biographer writes: "Charles was criticised by some senior members of the Establishment for failing to resolve conclusively the embarrassments presented by Harry and Andrew.

"His reticence weakened the Crown's reputation. By failing to consider properly the consequences of the princes' actions for the future of the monarchy, Charles rightly questioned his own and Camilla's popularity. Public opinion mattered."

Elsewhere in Mr Bower's new book, he claimed that Queen Camilla allegedly told a friend that she felt Meghan had "brainwashed" Harry.

He wrote: "Increasingly, his character mirrored Meghan's. Emotionally, he veered towards extremes. Simple dislikes became passionate hatred. 'Meghan's brainwashed Harry,' Camilla told a friend".

Following the initial serialisation of the book, a spokesman for Harry and Meghan issued a damning statement in response to Mr Bower's claims.

They said: "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."