Meghan and Kate were encouraged to dress like Diana ‘so some of her shine would rub off on them’, Sussex cheerleader claims in new book

The Princess of Wales and Meghan Markle have both been encouraged to dress like Diana so that a little of her “glow could rub off on them”, according to a new book.

Omid Scobie, who has long been close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, claims in his new book about the royal family that the couple were urged to essentially “cosplay” as their spouses’ mother-in-law.

The Sussexes’ biographer writes that Kate, 41, and Meghan, 42, were sometimes given outfits based on ideas using photos of the late Princess of Wales for inspiration.

The 42-year-old quotes a royal source as saying that William, 41, and Harry, 39, were consulted whenever it was suggested that their wives would be dressed in a style similar to that of their late mother.

It is one of a number of explosive claims in the author’s new book Endgame, which will be published on Tuesday, with other allegations within, including that Charles is a ‘spoiled’ monarch who has his shoelaces ironed for him.

It also takes aim at Kate, claiming she is too scared to do anything by taking ‘grinning photo ops’, in a cruel swipe that a friend of the princess has branded ‘terribly unfair’.

The latest claims coming true before the book’s official release were published Page sixwho claims to have seen an excerpt that evokes the specter of Diana.

In it, Scobie writes that Kate and Meghan both wear jewelry that once belonged to their late mother-in-law, adding that a “tremendous amount of effort” goes into “channeling her exact look” and that this is “sometimes extraordinary.” ‘.

He adds, “Over the past thirteen years, Diana cosplay has become a royal staple.”

The author continues, “Were there gentle nudges from others? Sometimes. Someone was known to go back to a certain place or time and pull up images of Diana for ideas.

‘At the right time this can be a sweet gesture, but there is also a slightly queasy feeling when you realize that it is often orchestrated within the same system that contributed to her living misery, and an institution that still wants some of Diana’s shine rub away. on them.’

Scobie co-authored Finding Freedom, a biography of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and has not held back in his criticism of the royal family in the run-up to the release of his new book.

In an interview published on Sunday to complement his latest work, he said: ‘The little achievements we have seen from the Princess of Wales might not be noticed if it were from another member of the Royal Family, but at Kate is so. like ‘wow!’ ‘

His cruel lashing – described by a friend of the princess as ‘hideously unfair’ – will enrage the royal family.

Insiders said the princess – intelligent, hardworking and passionate about the causes she promotes – has proven popular with the public in recent years.

But in a striking indication of the dismissive tone of the new book, Scobie says that ‘we are infantilizing’ [Kate] massively so that the bar is always lower’.

Today’s Sunday Times says the book portrays the princess ‘as a woman terrified of doing more than taking grinning photos’.

In the past, Scobie, 42, has been called the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s ‘mouthpiece’ for his sympathetic portrayal of the couple.

His new book Endgame, a frontal attack on their perceived enemies, is expected to further widen the rift between Harry and his family.

Leaked extracts seen by The Mail on Sunday paint an unflattering picture of King Charles, with Scobie branding him “a flawed father” and a conniving person – and accusing him of effectively punishing leaks about his sons to the press .

Predictably, William also comes under fire. The author says he is increasingly in cahoots with palace courtiers who devise dirty tricks.

According to Scobie, the Prince of Wales uses his aides and their press contacts to portray his younger brother as emotionally vulnerable.

Endgame also suggests that William and Kate found the Sussexes’ merciless quips in US animated satire South Park earlier this year ‘very funny’. William, it adds, hated Meghan from the start.

And the book says the king thought his son was a ‘fool’ for making a heartbreaking Netflix documentary claiming his father told ‘lies’ and his brother ‘screamed and shouted’ at the Sandringham Summit, which led to the Sussexes moving to the US. US.

Writing about what he sees as a power struggle between the favored prince and the ‘unpopular’ king, Scobie claims that Charles is jealous of William’s position and knows that although his reign will only be a transitional one, his eldest son will have time to breathe new life. the monarchy.

Scobie claims that palace corruption and toxic media spin have continued into the present and reflects on what he describes as the selfish agendas of the king and his eldest son.

This is part of Endgame’s thesis that the royal family is ‘desperate’ and floundering after the death of the late queen.

Other extracts suggest that palace aides expressed doubts about whether Charles would be a suitable king.

To survive, Scobie claims the palace is now using Donald Trump-style “jingoism.”