ROBERT JOBSON: It’s time for Harry and Meghan to speak out and distance themselves from these ill-informed and lurid allegations

Omid Scobie’s new book, Endgame, is certainly causing a stir.

It gets the kind of publicity that any author and publisher would dream of.

It now seems certain that the book I bought in Waterstones for £22 is on its way to the bestseller lists.

Yet that dramatic title is just as fanciful as some of the more lurid content making headlines.

Endgame claims that it is the monarchy’s ‘struggle for survival’. Real? Is the monarchy really in such a bad state?

The Prince and Princess of Wales are criticized by Scobie, who accuses Kate of being terrified of doing anything other than photo opportunities. The Waleses were pictured last week during the ceremonial welcome of the president of South Korea

Author Omid Scobie poses for a selfie with a copy of his book. Is he in danger of believing his own publicity?

Prince Harry and William are pictured together in July 2018. It was another 18 months before Harry and Meghan left their royal duties and headed to North America.

I think Omid, the co-author of the bestseller Finding Freedom, and former showbiz and entertainment reporter, is in danger of believing his own publicity.

I work with Omid at the American network ABC, where we both make royal contributions. I like him personally. We have a good working relationship.

But to suggest that the British monarchy is on its last legs is not only a bit much, it is as ill-informed as some of the things contained in the 403-page book.

As the author of 18 books (some bestsellers, some unfortunately not) I hate to criticize another writer’s work, knowing how much blood, sweat and tears go into a book.

But some of what he says about Catherine, The Princess of Wales, is catty and unfair.

I have now fully read the chapter focusing on her and I agree that some of the reporting is exaggerated.

But it’s still unfair.

The princess did her best to serve the queen, the king and the country, but also her husband and family. As a mother of three, her schedule is relentless.

She also faced hostile press and criticism, as Meghan did – in some places – when she first appeared on the royal stage.

Catherine was called ‘Waitie Katie’, remember. Her poor mother Carole was even criticized for being from the working class, for aspiring to better things (her real ‘crime’ in my opinion) and – heaven forbid! – for chewing gum.

But there is certainly a bigger question at play here, one that has little to do with the veracity of what is actually in the Scobie book.

And it is this: why doesn’t Harry, Duke of Sussex make a clear, personal statement distancing himself from Endgame and its content?

Why isn’t Meghan, Duchess of Sussex doing the same?

Off-the-record briefings and ‘friends’ are not enough.

By remaining silent they are in effect supporting Omid, his implausible claims and his false claim that the monarchy is on the brink and ‘fighting for survival’.

Some of the claims in Endgame are fanciful and lurid, says Robert Jobson

Royal writer Jobson believes the monarchy is in good hands – and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should distance themselves from Omid Scobie’s book

King Charles and Queen Camilla on November 14, the king’s 75th birthday

Is that what they want?

My view on this is very different: the British monarchy is far from over under King Charles III.

With the support of his eldest son Prince William, Queen Camilla and the rest of the working royal family – especially Catherine – this 1,000-year-old institution is embracing change and going from strength to strength.

• Robert Jobson is the author of Our King: Charles III, published by John Blake Publishing Ltd