A firestorm has erupted in the British royal family after a new book made explosive claims that a senior royal made racist comments about Archie, the son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The book, "Endgame" by Omid Scobie, was set to publish in Dutch but has now been pulled from shelves after accidentally naming the royal figure accused of making the remarks.
New Claims Revive Existing Racism Accusations
The claims in Scobie’s book revive existing accusations of racism that Prince Harry and Meghan raised in their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. At the time, the couple said there were "concerns and conversations" within the royal family about how dark Archie’s skin color might be before he was born.
The new book alleges that two members of the royal household made racist comments and raised concerns, including Prince William. Per Scobie, William and Kate “were aware of" the comments but "did nothing."
Scobie, a known ally of Harry and Meghan, writes that “There was no big confrontation" over the remarks because the Sussexes felt it "would only make the situation worse."
Dutch Version Names Royal, Prompting Hasty Withdrawal
The controversy erupted this week when the Dutch version of Scobie’s book was set to publish, purportedly naming Prince William as the royal who made racist remarks about Archie.
Within hours, the book was hastily pulled from shelves amid threats of lawsuits. Scobie and representatives in the Netherlands have claimed it was due to a "translation error" that wrongly identified the royal figure involved.
But royal experts have cast doubt about whether this was truly an error. There are allegations that lawyers intervened over the naming of a senior royal, which breaches strict UK libel laws.
Regardless of the exact details, the book’s revelations have set off a new firestorm and intense speculation about racism within the very top ranks of the monarchy.
Background: Longstanding Rift Between Sussexes and Other Royals
The Sussexes’ accusations touch on a years-long rift between Prince Harry, Meghan and the rest of the royal family.
The trouble began brewing even before their fairytale 2018 wedding when Harry and Meghan bristled at attempts by courtiers and relatives to control aspects of their relationship. As popular outsiders, the glamorous couple also faced intense – and many said racist – media scrutiny.
By early 2020, Harry and Meghan stepped back entirely from royal duties and relocated to California. Later interviews made clear deep divisions within the House of Windsor behind the shocking exit.
Racism has been a repeated theme, with Meghan saying initial concerns over Archie’s skin color left her suicidal while pregnant. The couple also accused the family failing to defend them from racist UK press attacks.
What Happens Next?
It remains unclear whether lawyers will allow Scobie’s full allegations to emerge or succeed in keeping them confidential.
But royals sources says Harry’s father King Charles III and brother William are "completely devastated" and "betrayed" by the new racism claims. There are fears the controversy could seriously undermine attempts by Charles to reconcile with the Sussexes.
Some royal watchers believe Harry and Meghan are now on a "point of no return" path of all-out war with the family. Supporters argue they have a duty to expose racism within the historically white institution.
But other experts counter the Sussexes risk overplaying their hand. There is growing public weariness over their constant media attacks on the royals. Questions have emerged over discrepancies in the couple’s own telling of events.
Ultimately the saga highlights deep fractures within the monarchy itself as it attempts to transition between generations and confront difficult issues around race. With passions running high on all sides, the "Endgame" controversy is unlikely to bring the definitive conclusion many hoped for.
Table: Timeline of Key Events in Royal Racism Row
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 2016 | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle begin secretly dating |
| September 2017 | First public confirmation of their relationship |
| November 2017 | Engagement announced |
| May 2018 | Couple married in globally televised royal wedding |
| Oct. 2018 | Meghan announces pregnancy; speculation begins on skin color of royal baby |
| March 2021 | Sussexes final royal engagements; relocate to North America |
| March 2021 | Explosive Oprah interview airs; Sussexes claim royal racist comments about Archie |
| June 2022 | Harry & Meghan visit UK during Platinum Jubilee, but have limited role |
| January 2023 | Harry’s memoir "Spare" set to publish, feared to contain new accusations |
November 2023 | Scobie book revival of racism claims; Dutch version names royal figure |
The table above shows a timeline of the key events underpinning the ongoing racism controversy with the British royal family, Harry, and Meghan. It traces origins back to 2016 but escalating especially after claims first aired in 2021. The latest row shows the issue is far from resolved.
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