Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary Goldsmith is threatening legal action after fake memoirs were sold on Amazon
Three books purporting to be ‘memoirs’ by the Princess of Wales’s uncle Gary Goldsmith and containing fabricated anecdotes about the royal family have been published online by Amazon.
The fake memoir appears in the e-commerce giant’s books section and promises to ‘reveal the secrets’ of the senior Royals, as well as Harry and Meghan.
Mr. Goldsmith, Kate’s mother’s younger brother, is furious about the deception. After being tipped off by The Mail on Sunday, which discovered the forgeries, the 58-year-old multi-millionaire is considering legal action.
The first book, Gary Goldsmith’s Memoir: What You Didn’t Know About The Royal Family, costs £5.72 and is written by ‘Robin O Owens’.
It says that ‘Kate Middleton’s uncle, the Duchess of Cambridge, reveals information about the royal family that the public rarely hears’.
Gary Goldsmith has demanded that Amazon reveal the names of those who sold the fake memoirs
Three books purporting to be ‘memoirs’ by the Princess of Wales’ uncle Gary Goldsmith and containing fabricated anecdotes about the royal family have been published online by Amazon
A bizarre anecdote describes how Mr Goldsmith witnessed the Queen doing ‘an impeccable impersonation of a royal correspondent’s posh accent after one too many cocktails’ at Balmoral Castle.
The second book, The Insider’s Scoop: Gary Goldsmith’s Revelations About Harry And Meghan’s Private Life, written by ‘Penny Crux’, costs £4.04 and has a decidedly pro-Sussex slant.
The books are ‘total nonsense and shabby nonsense’
It is absurd that Mr Goldsmith is said to have described himself as Meghan’s uncle – before categorically refuting his ‘claims’ at the end of each chapter.
The third, Gary Goldsmith: The Unfiltered Truth: My Personal Odyssey With The Royal Family; Unveiling The Secrets, by ‘Gary J Smith’, costs £6.41 and reads more like a novel than a biography.
All three books have now been removed from sale on Amazon’s Kindle store.
Other false stories in the books include a crude prank involving Prince William and toilet paper, as well as anecdotes about Mr. Goldsmith being summoned by the late Queen Elizabeth II to her private quarters, where we had conversations that left me both thrilled and excited. nervous’. In reality, he never met the queen.
Last night Mr Goldsmith told the MoS: ‘I have never given consent to a third party, conducted an interview or shared private information relating to my life or that of my family. It’s total nonsense – and shabby nonsense.’
He has demanded that Amazon release the names of those behind the scam and consult lawyers.
A bizarre anecdote describes how Mr Goldsmith witnessed the Queen doing ‘an impeccable imitation of a royal correspondent’s posh accent after one too many cocktails’ at Balmoral Castle.
He added: “I want to take legal action against those who publish fake news because they are putting words in my mouth. They stole my image and identity and caused me loss and shame.”
The MoS discovered the books after a story appeared in the famous magazine OK! he claimed that Mr Goldsmith was ‘putting the finishing touches’ on a comprehensive memoir, which would give the Middletons a ‘voice’.
Further stories appeared in Tatler, the Daily Mirror, Marie Claire, the Express and on GB News. OK! claimed that the Princess of Wales was ‘afraid’ of the ‘upcoming memoir’ and that she and Prince William had asked her uncle to tone down the book.
Even former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond was apparently duped, saying the book would ‘widen the divide and provoke retaliation from the Sussexes’.
It is not clear whether the books were written by artificial intelligence, but they are full of errors and bad grammar. Significantly, some of the spelling is American.
There are also references to non-existent royal assistants such as Lords Percival and Reginald.
The author or authors also appear to be fans of Meghan and Harry, describing them as having “an undeniable chemistry, their love… evident in every interaction.”
All three books, which were published within weeks of each other, have a similar tone, suggesting they were uploaded by the same person.
Mr Goldsmith, who lives in London with his wife Julie-Ann, said that after bringing the counterfeits to Amazon’s attention, he received a grudging apology.
An Amazon spokesperson said: ‘The titles in question are no longer available for sale and we have contacted Mr Goldsmith directly.’