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The royal family is once again facing controversy after the publication of Omid Scobie’s book Endgame.
The Netherlands has removed copies of the royal author’s second book due to the naming of two members of the royal family who allegedly expressed concerns about the skin color of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son, Archie.
In their highly anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Harry and Meghan initially accused a senior member of the royal family. However, they chose not to reveal the individual’s identity out of concern for potential negative consequences.
Unfortunately, a Dutch version of Mr Scobie’s latest book revealed the identities of not one, but two high-ranking members of the royal family who allegedly made these remarks. According to Endgame, these names were mentioned in correspondence between the Duchess of Sussex and the King.
As the global community responds to the developing events, we examine the person responsible for the publication.
Who is the person known as Omid Scobie?
Mr. Scobie is a UK journalist who works in the United States.
It is believed that he was born in Wales and raised in Oxford, before attending the London College of Communication at University of the Arts London to study journalism.
During the beginning of his professional journey, he wrote about famous people for magazines such as Heat and US Weekly. Later on, he became the royal editor at Harper’s Bazaar, a position he still holds today.
For five years, he had been reporting on matters involving the royal family when Prince Harry started a relationship with Meghan.
According to Mr Scobie in an interview with The Times, he was determined to build strong relationships with everyone and be a reliable source for the palace to turn to for fact-checking.
Mr Scobie co-authored his first book, Finding Freedom, with Carolyn Durand.
The 2021 release is a personal depiction of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
What is his relationship to the Sussexes?
For many years, Mr. Scobie has been known as “Meghan’s spokesperson” due to his positive coverage of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Despite posting on X before the release of Endgame, he has consistently stated that he is not a friend of the Sussexes, as he stated, “I am not ‘Meg’s pal’.”
During an interview with Paris Match, he reiterated: “I am not their friend and have never been.”
In 2020, Mr. Scobie stated that he and Meghan exchanged a “farewell embrace” as she completed her final official duty as a member of the royal family.
Before flying to Canada, she invited three journalists to cover the event, one of whom was him.
During Endgame, Mr. Scobie disclosed that Meghan had phoned him personally upon discovering that he had been targeted with threats on social media.
What is Endgame’s message?
Mr Scobie’s most recent publication makes allegations against two high-ranking members of the royal family, suggesting they may have raised concerns about the skin tone of Harry and Meghan’s first child. Other explosive revelations include a reported rift between King Charles and the Prince of Wales.
Mr. Scobie portrays William as a driven and impulsive prince, who is determined to guide the royal family towards the future. He claims that William wishes to discard the old ways and do things according to the “Cambridge way”.
According to Mr. Scobie, it is doubtful that the bond between William and Harry will be repaired.
What has been the response to Endgame?
Thousands of copies of the book have been removed from shelves after the Dutch translation revealed the names of the two royals accused of racism.
On Wednesday night, Piers Morgan revealed the identities of the two royals mentioned in the book during his TalkTV program.
He said, “If Dutch citizens browsing a bookstore can come across these names, then you, the British taxpayers who financially support the royal family, also have the right to know.”
Rick Evers, a journalist covering the royal family, has reviewed the Dutch version of the book and noted that the first royal’s name is “highly specific”. He also mentioned a second name that is mentioned elsewhere but is “somewhat ambiguous”.
However, Mr. Scobie stood by his controversial book “Endgame” during an interview on ITV’s “This Morning.”
He stated, “I have never turned in a book containing those names” and expressed his frustration, stating that he shares the same feelings as everyone else. He also denied being a spokesperson for Meghan Markle.
Source: independent.co.uk