Pressure is mounting on Harry and Meghan after Prince William demanded action over racism allegations in Omid Scobie’s inflammatory book – and their son’s godfather barred them from his high-society wedding to avoid drama.
William is said to “want action” after his wife Kate was named alongside Charles as the two royals Meghan identified in a private letter to the royal in which she claimed “concerns” had been raised about the color of her future son Archie’s skin be.
And on another front, more trouble is mounting for the Montecito-based couple as Parliament could consider the “nuclear option” of stripping Harry and Meghan of their royal titles under a bombshell bill proposed this week should.
Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, is said to have decided against inviting the Sussexes to avoid clashes on his big day amid rising tensions following the publication of Omid Scobie’s new book.
Mistreated by critics, Endgame portrays the king as “incompetent,” William as a power-hungry corporate boss, and Kate as a “Stepford Woman.” Only Meghan and Harry escape criticism.
One of Prince Harry’s closest friends and godfather to his son Archie, the devastating snub is seen as a result of the couple’s increasingly bitter falling out with the rest of the royal family.
William is said to “want action” after his wife Kate was named alongside Charles as the two royals Meghan identified in a private letter to the royal that claimed “concern” about the color of her future son’s skin had been expressed. Pictured: Harry and Meghan with Archie in 2019
Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, is said to have decided against inviting the Sussexes to avoid clashes on his big day amid rising tensions following the publication of Omid Scobie’s new book. Pictured: With fiancée Olivia Henson
Tensions are already high between Harry and William – after King Charles III. and Kate Middleton were named as members of the royal family, they are said to have made comments about the skin color of Harry and Meghan’s son Archie before his birth in the Dutch edition of Scobie’s latest book, Endgame
In the meantime, this newspaper understands that the King will be “conferring” with William next week about how to deal with the fallout from Scobie’s book.
The royal family has firmly adopted a business-as-usual stance, but the possibility of legal action remains. The final decision on the next step rests with Charles, who sources say will not act hastily.
A palace source said: “Most right-wing people would expect an apology – who wouldn’t?”
“Being falsely branded as a racist in the press is a serious accusation that must be taken seriously.” “All options are still on the table.”
Sources close to the Sussexes have tried to distance the couple from the book. They say Meghan never intended for the King or Princess of Wales to be publicly identified in the race row and that the letter was not passed on to Scobie by anyone close to her.
She is likely to be less disappointed than her husband at missing the Duke’s wedding celebrations, which are expected to take place at his 10,872-acre Eaton Hall estate in Cheshire. Scobie has said that she refuses to return to England and “dive back into the soap opera”.
But back in the UK, advisers to the royals say the week will be “business as usual” – as they prepare for a string of glittering events that will see them “topping” last week, the Mirror reports.
It comes as Conservative MP Bob Seely introduces a bill that could deny the Sussexes their titles as Duke and Duchess.
To rub salt in the wound, Prince William is believed to be in the running for the position of Grosvenor’s best man. Pictured: William with Grosvenor in 2004
Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, is said to have chosen the Prince and Princess of Wales over the Sussexes to avoid clashes that would overshadow his big day. Pictured: Prince William (right) and Hugh Grosvenor (second left) during the official handover of the newly built Defense and National Rehabilitation Center in 2018
Tensions between Harry and William are already high. Pictured: Prince Harry (third from right) visits the Khulula Care for Wild Center in South Africa with Grosvenor (right) in 2015.
On Sunday he wrote in The Mail that he felt compelled to act because “race was being used to denigrate the royal family” – and suggested reviving World War I laws could pave the way for this , declaring the couple as pure Mr. and Mrs. Sussex.
The Isle of Wight MP wants to adjust laws originally passed to deny enemy German nobles their British titles. Mr Seely said he had to act because there had been attempts to use race to denigrate the royal family, which he described as “toxically insidious”.
He is requesting that his Titles Deprivation 1917 Amendment Bill be listed in the Commons’ Order Paper next week. It would revitalize the warring powers by removing references to “enemies” and “current war.” He coordinated the wording with the Parliament’s Desk Office, which oversees draft legislation.
The Duke of Westminster had originally planned to invite Harry and Meghan to his wedding to Olivia Henson on June 6 at Chester Cathedral.
However, the 32-year-old aristocrat changed his mind due to the drama surrounding the couple and fears that their presence would overshadow the day, reports the Sunday Times.
Another important aspect was the feelings of Charles, Camilla, William and Kate.
The billionaire Duke, known to his friends as Hughie, is also godfather to William’s son Prince George, ten, who will also be in attendance.
He was a lifelong friend to each of the brothers and probably the only buddy they both chose to mentor their children.
And to rub salt in the wound, Prince William is believed to be in the running for the position of Grosvenor’s best man.
Conservative MP Bob Seely (pictured) is putting forward a bill that could deny the Sussexes their titles as Duke and Duchess
Grosvenor was a lifelong friend to both brothers and probably the only buddy they both chose to mentor their children. Pictured: At the wedding of Harry’s school friend Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks
According to the broadsheet, the Duke wanted to invite Harry and Meghan but ultimately decided against it as he feared it would cause tensions with the other royals invited – including the King and Queen.
“It’s incredibly sad that it’s come to this,” a friend of William and Harry told the Sunday Times.
“Hugh is one of William and Harry’s few close friends who has strong bonds and close communication with both of them.” He wishes they could put their heads together and sort things out, but is aware that that will happen before the wedding probably won’t happen.”
“He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and doesn’t want any embarrassment.”
A spokesman for the Duke said last night: “We are not in a position to comment on the guest list.” Buckingham Palace also declined to comment.
Archie’s other godparents have not been publicly named by his parents – but they include Tiggy Pettifer, Harry and William’s former nanny, Mark Dyer, his carer, and his school friend Charlie van Straubenzee.
Tensions are already high between Harry and William – after King Charles III. and Kate Middleton were named as members of the royal family, they are said to have made comments about the skin color of Harry and Meghan’s son Archie before his birth in the Dutch edition of Scobie’s latest book, Endgame.
The king is said to be taking the furor over the book “very seriously” and will consult senior advisers next week on the family’s next move, with “all options” including legal action to be considered.
Prince William (right) and the Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor (center) in 2018
Hugh Grosvenor attends Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding to Charlie van Straubenzee at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018
The Sunday Times understands that the Duke wanted to invite Harry and Meghan but decided against it because he feared it would cause tensions with the other royals invited – including the King and Queen
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan did not comment publicly on the scandal. Scobie has been accused of acting as a “mouthpiece” for the Sussexes, a claim he has denied, writing on X, formerly Twitter: “I’m not ‘Meg’s mate’.”
However, sources close to the Duchess of Sussex, who allegedly wrote down the names of the two family members in letters to King Charles, insisted that she “never intended to publicly identify them.”
A source close to the royal family has now called on Harry and Meghan to speak publicly on the issue.
“For the couple who spoke about ‘death by a thousand no comments’, the silence at this point is deafening,” the source told The Telegraph.
Another insider added that the decision not to respond was “interesting” given the Sussexes’ previous complaints about not receiving support when faced with negative press reports.
The scandal – Scobie had to insist it was not a publicity stunt – ensured that “Endgame” remained in the headlines for more than a week, as excerpts were published in a French magazine in the days before its release.
The most eye-opening excerpt from Paris Match claimed there was a second so-called “royal racist” – after Harry and Meghan alluded to a member of the royal household in 2021 who expressed discomfort with Archie’s skin color.
The couple were reportedly identified in the Dutch version of the book – and tonight were frequently referred to as King Charles and Kate by media organizations around the world, including the Guardian and the Times.
Meanwhile, this newspaper understands that the King will “conference” with William next week about how to deal with the fallout from Scobie’s (pictured) book
Royals advisers say the week will be “business as usual” – as they prepare for a series of glittering events that will see them “topping” last week, the Mirror reports. Pictured: William and Kate at the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 30th
The royal family has firmly adopted a business-as-usual stance, but the possibility of legal action remains. The final decision on the next step rests with Charles, who sources say will not act hastily. Pictured: The King speaks during a COP28 opening ceremony
The inclusion of the names resulted in 5,000 copies of the book – called “Final Battle” in Holland – being taken off the bookshelf and pulped.
Bookstores were ordered to remove the paperback from their shelves and return it to the publisher. The book goes on sale again next week.
And newly revealed excerpts from the Dutch version of the book – which were changed or omitted from the British edition – are likely to further exacerbate tensions within the company.
The text described the Prince of Wales as “heartless” – a term that does not appear in the British edition, reports The Sun.
It was further claimed that the reason William was still angry with Harry when the Queen died was because of the couple’s interview with US television star Oprah the year before.
In a series of quotes attributed to “sources close to the Sussexes”, William is called “heartless” and “petty” and claims he “ignored” Harry as the royals rushed to Balmoral.
Grosvenor, who is believed to own more land than the king, has an estimated net worth of £9.42 billion and has a long connection to the royal family – his late father Gerald served as godfather to King Charles.
The Duke was the third child and only son of Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, and his wife Natalia, who comes from the Russian Imperial House of Romanov, more specifically Nicholas I of Russia.
Grosvenor, who is believed to own more land than the king, has an estimated net worth of £9.42 billion and has a long connection to the royal family – his late father Gerald served as godfather to King Charles. Pictured: With his mother in 2018
When he was baptized on June 23, 1991, the king – then the Prince of Wales – agreed to act as godfather.
He even played an official role in the king’s coronation process – carrying the standards of the Quarterings of the Royal Arms and the standard of the Principality of Wales alongside the Marquess of Anglesey, the Earl of Caledon and the Scottish nobleman and conservative politician Earl of Dundee.
Grosvenor grew up at Eaton Hall with his three sisters, Lady Tamara, Lady Edwina and Lady Viola. They attended a local public primary school before he attended the small, private Mostyn House School, followed by Ellesmere College in Shropshire, where fees are £40,635 a year.
He later studied at Newcastle University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Countryside Management
The duke, whose Latin family motto Virtus Non Stemma means virtue rather than lineage, originally held the title Earl Grosvenor from birth until his father died in 2016 and he became the seventh duke.
At the time he was considered Britain’s most eligible bachelor, but in April this year he announced his engagement to Olivia Grace Henson.
Ms Henson, the Duke’s girlfriend of two years, works for an ethical food company. She attended the Princess of Wales’s old school, Marlborough College, where Princess Eugenie was a contemporary.
He confirmed the engagement through a statement that said: “The Duke of Westminster and Miss Olivia Henson are delighted to announce that they are engaged.”
“The couple, who have been together for two years, recently got engaged at the Duke’s family home at Eaton Hall in Cheshire.
“Members of both families are absolutely delighted with the news.”
“Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, is Grosvenor’s Chairman as well as Chairman of the Westminster Foundation.” “Miss Henson works for Belazu, a B Corp certified food company based in London.”
Web has contacted the Sussexes for comment.