Omid Scobie, the author of the book in which two members of the royal family are said to have discussed the skin color of Harry and Meghan’s son, has defended himself against any publicity “gimmick”.
• Also read: Color of Harry and Meghan’s baby: All options are being considered at Buckingham after two names are announced
• Also read: A translation of a book about the Windsors, revealing the name of the racist who was destroyed
During an event interview with Oprah Winfrey a year after their high-profile departure to the US in 2020, Harry and Meghan claimed that a member of the royal family wondered during their pregnancy what color their son Archie’s skin would be.
This interview sparked a lively debate in the United Kingdom about racism in the country and within the royal family.
The names of the two members of the royal family who are said to have had this discussion were published in the Dutch version of a new book about the Windsors, which was quickly withdrawn from sale by the publisher.
On Friday, many media outlets, including the BBC, the Daily Mirror, the Sun and the New York Times, reported that the two people mentioned in the book were King Charles III and Kate, Princess of Wales.
AFP
But author Omid Scobie, who is known to be close to Harry and Meghan, denied publishing the names. “The English version of the book, the only one I know, the one I signed (…), is the book that has no name,” he defended himself from any “publicity stunt” on the BBC’s Newsnight on Thursday evening. keep away.
“The Dutch publisher told us it was a translation error,” he explained, saying he was “hurt” by these “conspiracy theories.”
AFP
The book’s two translators have denied any wrongdoing. According to the Chron, Saskia Peeters claimed that the names appeared in the manuscript sent to her. “As a translator, I translate what I have in front of me,” she said.
“The names of the royals were there in black and white. I didn’t add them,” she continued, “I just did what I was paid to do: ‘Translate the book from English to Dutch.’
Omid Scobie refused to apologize to the royal family: “It is not my job to apologize as I am still trying to understand what happened.”
On Wednesday, TV host Piers Morgan, who has been very critical of Harry and Meghan, named the names on his show “Piers Morgan Uncensored” and said it would allow for “an open debate.”
But he also said that he did not believe “that any member of the royal family has ever made racist comments.”
In response to the allegations, Buckingham Palace said it was “examining all options”.