Omid Scobie’s book Endgame is being pulled from shelves in the Netherlands after the Dutch translation was wrongly ‘called’ the ‘royal racist’ for talking about Archie’s skin color
Omid Scobie’s controversial new book has been withdrawn from sale in the Netherlands after the Dutch translation appeared to mention the ‘royal racist’.
Publisher Xander has confirmed to the Daily Mail that it had received a last-minute request from the US to stop sales of Endgame and was ‘awaiting further instructions’.
Scobie does not name the member of the royal family who reportedly raised “concerns” about the skin color of Harry and Meghan’s future son, Archie, in his original edition of the book.
He says defamation laws prevent him from mentioning these names – although he claims a second person within the royal family also echoed these comments.
But a page from a review copy of the book sent to Dutch journalists appears to contain the person’s identity.
Meghan and Harry pictured with Archie during a tour of South Africa in September 2019
Scobie does not name the member of the royal family who reportedly expressed ‘concerns’ about Archie’s skin color
Referring to letters written between Meghan and the king discussing the matter, it says: ‘But in those private letters [the identity] was confirmed: ….’ [the Mail has redacted the name concerned]
It is not clear why a foreign language version of the book would mention a person while other editions did not, or whether it was intentionally included or a major publishing error.
A spokesperson for the Dutch publisher said: ‘You’re right, but I can’t talk about the details. However, we received a request to put the title on hold and we did so.’
When asked when that request was received, she explains: “Just now.
‘We are awaiting further instructions. I don’t know how long this will be. You need to speak to the American agent.”
Scobie doesn’t mention the “royal racist” in the British edition of Endgame
A Dutch royal journalist, Rick Evers, tweeted that he had been told: ‘Endgame should be withdrawn from sale, says Dutch publisher at the request of US agent. ‘
He added: ‘A number of passages have provoked discussion but may not have been accurately stated.
‘This also appears to relate to the accusation against… [name redacted] about Archie’s skin color.
‘As far as I know, this only concerns the Dutch version, not the English version. It seems as if only the Dutch version published the name of the person who spoke about the skin color of the unborn child.’
He included a copy of the original page and a translation.
There was no immediate comment from Buckingham Palace.
Archie seen with baby Lilibet in the Sussexes’ 2021 Christmas card