Omid Scobies book is believed to contain a number of

Omid Scobie’s book is believed to contain a number of scathing criticisms of the royal family. Here royal correspondent NATASHA LIVINGSTONE separates fact from fiction…

Claim: The royal household’s diversity initiative is just a PR stunt.

Truth: Proof of Prince William’s famous statement that “we are by no means a racist family” was the appointment of British-Nigerian cultural anthropologist Eva Omaghomi as Charles and Camilla’s director of community engagement. The King’s commitment to employing people from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds goes back decades. A case in point is how in 1998 he hired Colleen Harris as his press secretary, whose family was from Guyana. It was said that she “helped transform Charles into a human being.”

Eva Omaghomi attends the British Vogue Forces For Change Dinner hosted by Edward Enninful and Vanessa Kingori at the London Hotel on December 4, 2022 in London, England

Eva Omaghomi attends the British Vogue Forces For Change Dinner hosted by Edward Enninful and Vanessa Kingori at the London Hotel on December 4, 2022 in London, England

Claim: William “distanced” himself from Harry after his wedding to Meghan.

Truth: The Sussexes married in May 2018, after which rumors began to spread that the brothers were growing apart. But William, Harry, Kate and Meghan made a series of smiling public appearances together afterwards. This included traveling together to the Christmas morning service in 2018 at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, right, to maintain their reputation as the sworn “Fab Four”.

The then Prince Charles, William, Catherine, Meghan and Harry at the Sandringham estate on December 25, 2018 in King's Lynn

The then Prince Charles, William, Catherine, Meghan and Harry at the Sandringham estate on December 25, 2018 in King’s Lynn

Claim: The monarchy is unpopular with the public and is in decline.

Truth: A poll published in the Chron during the king’s coronation week in May found that more than half of Brits would vote for a constitutional monarchy. 65 percent of the 11,450 respondents agreed that the royal family was “an asset to the United Kingdom.”

Claim: Charles might have preferred to live as Camilla’s tampon.

Truth: This cruelly refers to a funny, private phone conversation between Camilla and Charles in 1989 that was recorded without her knowledge and published by a tabloid four years later. Charles made a childish joke about turning into a Tampax, which was typical of his Goon Show-style humor.

Claim: Charles never tried to settle the dispute with Harry after “Megxit”.

Truth: The king offered an olive branch by inviting Harry to his coronation, even though his son’s book “Spare” had been published, which contained hurtful allegations about the royal family. However, it was reported that Harry delayed his response because he was preoccupied with “transatlantic ping-pong” and worried about where he would sit in Westminster Abbey.

Claim: The palace lied by promising that Camilla would never become queen.

Truth: The palace leadership of Camilla’s title has evolved over time. In 2005, courtiers said it was “intended” that former Mrs Parker Bowles would use the title of Her Royal Highness Princess Consort when Charles ascended to the throne. But in 2020, Queen Elizabeth II said it was her “sincere wish” that Charles’ wife would be known as Queen Consort. After the coronation she was only known as Queen Camilla.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the wedding of Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie of York at St. George's Chapel on October 12, 2018 in Windsor, England

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the wedding of Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie of York at St. George’s Chapel on October 12, 2018 in Windsor, England

Claim: Charles was a “vicious husband who destroyed Princess Diana’s life.”

Truth: Charles admitted adultery in an on-camera interview with Jonathan Dimbleby in 1994, but only after his marriage to Diana had “irretrievably failed after we both tried.” Then, the following year, in her infamous BBC Panorama interview with Martin Bashir, Diana also confessed to infidelity and said she had fallen in love with cavalry officer James Hewitt. Royal author Robert Lacey wrote in his 2020 book Battle Of Brothers that young Prince William initially felt so betrayed by Diana’s confession that he cried and refused to speak to his mother for a time.

The Gold State Coach, built in 1760 and used at every coronation since William IV's coronation in 1831, waits during the coronation of King Charles III.  and Queen Camilla in front of Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023 in London

The Gold State Coach, built in 1760 and used at every coronation since William IV’s coronation in 1831, waits during the coronation of King Charles III. and Queen Camilla in front of Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023 in London

Claim: The monarchy relies on whimsy and “Trumpian” efforts to stay relevant.

Truth: More than 250,000 people joyfully queued for hours to witness Elizabeth II’s laying in state in London in September 2022. Interest in the royal family has been high ever since, with almost 20 million Brits watching all the pomp of Charles’ coronation in May – people left when it was broadcast on 11 TV channels and services