Author responds after Dutch version of book on Princes William, Harry temporarily pulled from bookshelves
Author Omid Scobie shared his reaction with ABC News.
Author and royal reporter Omid Scobie is speaking out after a Dutch translation of his latest book on Britain's royal family was temporarily pulled from bookshelves in the Netherlands.
In his book, "Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival," Scobie, also an ABC News royal contributor, reports on an explosive claim that Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, made after stepping away from their senior royal roles in 2020.
In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Sussexes claimed that ahead of their son Archie’s birth, there were conversations with Harry about what tone his skin might be. Archie, who is now 4, was the first American British biracial royal born in the U.K., and is also widely considered to be the first mixed race child born into the royal family.
Both Harry and Meghan declined to open up to Winfrey at the time about who discussed the subject with Harry.
In "Endgame," however, Scobie alleges there were two people who raised questions about Archie's skin tone. Scobie told ABC News that he knows the names of the two people allegedly involved in the conversations but that U.K. libel laws prevent him from publicly revealing their names.
When "Endgame" hit bookshelves in the Netherlands this week, two passages in the Dutch translation of the book included two names of royals who were allegedly involved.
As a result, the book's Dutch publisher temporarily pulled the book from shelves.
The publishing company, Xander Uitgevers, told ABC News in a statement, "An error occurred in the Dutch translation and is currently being rectified."
In response to the book being pulled, Scobie told ABC News that the English language version of the book that he oversaw did not contain any names in regards to the reporting on conversations about Archie's skin tone.
"It's being dealt with by the Dutch publisher," Scobie told ABC News' Linsey Davis in an interview Tuesday. "You know, I wrote this book in English. I edited it in English. And it's being published in the U.S. and the U.K. by Harper Collins, and for us, there were no names."
"Endgame," which is now on sale in the United States, details the aftermath of Harry and Meghan's decision to exit their senior royal roles and the future of Britain's monarchy following the death of Queen Elizabeth II last year.
Harry and Meghan now live with Archie and their daughter Lilibet in California, and have an estranged relationship with Harry's older brother Prince William, according to Scobie.
Scobie claims in "Endgame" that William, now the heir to the throne, at one time briefed the press about Harry, writing that action is one of many that caused "irreparable damage" between William and Harry, the only children of King Charles III and the late Princess Diana.
While Harry and Charles are also said to have a distant relationship, Scobie claims the two spoke recently on Charles' 75th birthday, reportedly their first conversation since Harry traveled to the U.K. to attend Charles' coronation in May.
Both Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace declined to comment on Scobie's book to ABC News.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes has not yet responded to ABC News' request for comment.
Related Topics
Popular Reads
ABC News Live