Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Piers Morgan explains why he named Charles and Kate as ‘royal racists’ in Omid Scobie book - live

The Dutch version of Endgame was pulled from the shelves, the publisher dismissing the edition containing the names as a ‘translation error’

Shweta Sharma,Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Monday 04 December 2023 11:00 EST
TV host Piers Morgan defended his decision to identify the two members of the royal family at the centre of the furore, saying it was “blindingly obvious” they were not guilty of racism.

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Piers Morgan has explained why he named the two allegedly “racist” members of the royal family featured in a Dutch translation of new book Endgame.

Earlier this week, the broadcaster decided to name the Princess of Wales and King Charles as the two senior royals inadvertently identified in an excerpt from Omid Scobie’s book about the royal racism scandal involving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2021.

At the time, he said: “If Dutch people wandering into a bookshop can see these names, then you, the British people who actually pay for the royal family are entitled to know, too.”

Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan are yet to break their silence after the Dutch translation of Omid Scobie’s book Endgame identified them both at the centre of a racism row.

A source close to the royal family has called on the Sussexes to speak out and defend their relatives as their silence is “deafening”, according to The Telegraph.

Harry and Meghan ‘excluded from wedding'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly been excluded from the upcoming wedding of the Duke of Westminster, a lifelong friend of Prince Harry and Archie’s godfather, as the fallout from the publication of Endgame rumbles on.

Hugh Grosvenor has invited the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales to his nuptials next summer with Olivia Henson, set to be the society wedding of the year.

But it is understood the lifelong friend of the princes did not invite Harry in order to avoid a family clash at the wedding and risk “anything overshadowing the day”.

Read more below:

Harry and Meghan Markle remain silent as ‘royal racists’ named in Omid Scobie’s book

The Dutch version of Endgame was pulled from the shelves, the publisher dismissing the edition containing the names as a ‘translation error’

Maryam Zakir-Hussain3 December 2023 14:00

MP in bid to strip Harry and Meghan of titles

A Tory MP is pushing for parliament to strip Harry and Meghan of their royal titles, leaving them as simply “Mr and Mrs Sussex”, as the fallout over the royal race row continues.

Bob Seely is proposing the “nuclear option” of denying the couple their standing in the Royal Family amid damaging claims made in a palace exposé, relating to the Sussexes bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021.

The Isle of Wight MP wants to adapt laws originally passed in the First World War to deny enemy German nobles their British titles.

His Bill would force MPs to consider turning Harry and Meghan into Mr and Mrs Sussex as pressure mounts on the couple over revelations in the new book Endgame, by royal author Omid Scobie.

Read more below:

Tory MP in bid to strip Harry and Meghan of their titles over royal race row

After a week in which the royal racism row exploded again, Bob Seely is proposing the ‘nuclear option’ of denying the couple their standing in the Royal Family

Archie Mitchell3 December 2023 14:56

Why won’t Prince Harry speak out to defend his dad?

As the royal ‘exposer-in-chief’ Omid Scobie is lambasted for betraying so many private conversations with his gossipy book ‘Endgame’, Harry’s biographer Angela Levin asks why has there been no word from the Sussexes

Why won’t Prince Harry speak out to defend his dad?

As the royal ‘exposer-in-chief’ Omid Scobie is lambasted for betraying so many private conversations with his gossipy book ‘Endgame’, Harry’s biographer Angela Levin asks why has there been no word from the Sussexes

Joe Middleton3 December 2023 17:34

Watch - Omid Scobie fights back tears as he defends Endgame following backlash

Omid Scobie fights back tears as he defends Endgame following backlash
Lydia Patrick3 December 2023 21:36

Who is Omid Scobie? Author of Endgame which ‘named royal racists’

Controversy has once again befallen the royal family following the release of Omid Scobie’s book Endgame.

Copies of the royal author’s second book were pulled from the shelves in the Netherlands after they were found to have named two members of the royal family alleged to have raised “concerns” about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son Archie.

The claims were initially made against one senior royal in Harry and Meghan’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, but the couple declined to name the person allegedly behind these remarks, fearing the backlash would be “too damaging for them”.

However, a Dutch translation of Mr Scobie’s new book appeared to name not one, but two senior royals who supposedly made such comments. Endgame claims the names were discussed in letters exchanged between the Duchess of Sussex and the King.

Who is Omid Scobie? Author of Endgame which ‘named royal racists’

Piers Morgan names royals cited in Dutch translation of book as he invites Scobie to appear on his show

Lydia Patrick4 December 2023 00:30

Why won’t Prince Harry speak out to defend his dad?

The test to determine whether Harry and Meghan were involved with Omid Scobie’s new book, Endgame, is to see if Prince Harry sues him. Harry dislikes anyone breaching his privacy and is a regular at the high courts. Similarly, Meghan isn’t known to be slow in calling out intrusion when private correspondence is thrust into the public domain. It is something she has done before, and after the contents of private letters exchanged between King Charles have been exposed, why not now?

Angela Levin explores

Why won’t Prince Harry speak out to defend his dad?

As the royal ‘exposer-in-chief’ Omid Scobie is lambasted for betraying so many private conversations with his gossipy book ‘Endgame’, Harry’s biographer Angela Levin asks why has there been no word from the Sussexes

Lydia Patrick4 December 2023 02:00

Tory MP in bid to strip Harry and Meghan of their titles over royal race row

A Tory MP is pushing for parliament to strip Harry and Meghan of their royal titles, leaving them as simply “Mr and Mrs Sussex”, as the fallout over the royal race row continues.

Bob Seely is proposing the “nuclear option” of denying the couple their standing in the Royal Family amid damaging claims made in a palace exposé, relating to the Sussexes bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021.

The Isle of Wight MP wants to adapt laws originally passed in the First World War to deny enemy German nobles their British titles.

Tory MP in bid to strip Harry and Meghan of their titles over royal race row

After a week in which the royal racism row exploded again, Bob Seely is proposing the ‘nuclear option’ of denying the couple their standing in the Royal Family

Lydia Patrick4 December 2023 04:00

Watch- Omid Scobie opens up on ‘upsetting’ revelation about Harry and William’s relationship

Omid Scobie opens up on 'upsetting' revelation about Harry and William's relationship
Lydia Patrick4 December 2023 06:00

Harry and Meghan ‘excluded from Archie’s godfather’s wedding’ amid royal racism row

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly been excluded from the upcoming wedding of the Duke of Westminster, a lifelong friend of Prince Harry and Archie’s godfather, as the fallout from the publication of Endgame rumbles on.

Hugh Grosvenor has invited the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales to his nuptials next summer with Olivia Henson, set to be the society wedding of the year.

But it is understood he did not invite Harry in order to avoid a family clash at the wedding and risk “anything overshadowing the day”.

Harry and Meghan ‘excluded from Archie’s godfather’s wedding’ amid royal racism row

Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain tightlipped over ‘Endgame’ fallout

Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 December 2023 07:42

From Oprah to Endgame: How the Harry and Meghan royal racism row unfolded

It was a royal saga to put even the most dramatic of Crown episodes to shame.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, sat across from Oprah Winfrey in a sprawling LA mansion, making the astonishing claim that a senior member of the royal family had made comments about the skin colour of their then unborn child, Archie.

The fallout was enormous, and though the Duke of Sussex later distanced himself from the remarks, the damage to The Firm was undeniable.

Fast forward two years when Omid Scobie’s book, Endgame, which purports to expose the monarchy and the fierce battles fought among the royals, reignited the damaging row thanks to a “translation error” which identified the two senior royals at the heart of the claims: Charles and Catherine.

Now, as the saga approaches its dramatic climax, The Independent recaps the twists and turns of this very modern royal row.

How the Harry and Meghan royal racism row unfolded

The striking claims highlight the Sussexes amid a race row – here’s how everything unfolded

Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 December 2023 08:55

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in