TalkTv
Piers Morgan has explained why he felt moved to reveal the names of the British royals who appeared in the Dutch translation of Omid Scobie’s new book Endgame, with the author claiming they had “concerns and conversations” about skin color attended by Prince Harry and Prince Harry Meghan Markle’s then-unborn child.
(Devoted royal watchers need not be reminded that these allegations were first raised at Harry and Meghan’s meeting with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, without the names of the alleged speakers being mentioned.)
This week the British media danced around the names, including the slightly surreal episode of the BBC’s flagship radio news program Today Program in which they were unidentified in the first hour of the broadcast but mentioned by name in the second.
Morgan, who referred to the two royals as King Charles and Kate Middleton on his talk TV show Wednesday night, wrote in the Times weekly that he felt the situation was becoming ridiculous and that he thought Scobie was a liar.
Morgan wrote:
“It seemed absurd to me that the Dutch should have access to important information about our royal family, but the British would also be prevented from finding out.
“Secondly, because this whole hustle and bustle has lasted long enough and caused enough damage. Frankly, it’s time we were told exactly what was supposedly said, by whom, to whom, when and where it was said, and exactly in what context. Otherwise, this deeply divisive, racially charged issue will continue to permeate the global public consciousness.
“Thirdly, because by disclosing the names their identities can no longer be presented as some kind of blackmail threat from the Sussexes.
“My own strong belief, which I am sure will be shared by most of the British public, is that neither Charles nor Kate have ever made racist comments about baby Archie and that this is a vile denigration of the characters of two people who have their lives in public service spent working for racial equality and justice.”
He added:
“Poor Omid Scobie seems to have become the first author in history to have his book secretly sabotaged on its way to a printing press in any foreign country.”
Scobie has denied including the names in any version of the manuscript he originally submitted for publication in various countries, while the Dutch translator at the center of the scandal was vigorously defended by her publisher, with both saying she I only translated what was presented before her.
Meanwhile, the British media is worried, with commentators saying it is now up to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to publicly speak out against the book’s contents. So far there has been a “deafening silence” in Montecito.
King Charles was active on the environment at Cop28 in Dubai this week, but his team is expected to discuss what next options – including legal or through a statement – could respond to this deeply damaging story for the British royal family. Everyone remembers the late Queen Elizabeth’s sweet reaction to the allegations made in the Oprah chat – “Recollections may vary.” For the royal follow-up… watch this space.