Friends of Prince William have hit out at criticisms of Harry’s brother in an explosive new book.
Omid Scobie’s second book, Endgame – billed as an investigation into the current state of the British monarchy – is due to be released tomorrow.
And in it, the royal journalist and author alleges William ‘prioritised his loyalty to the monarchy’ over his brother and actively leaked information about Harry and Meghan’s relationship ‘to undermine them’.
But several of his allies have now jumped to the defence of the Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne.
One source told the Daily Mail that what has been depicted is the ‘very opposite’ of William’s personal mantra.
‘He has always been very tight-lipped when it comes to his family and made clear to anyone within his orbit that he would not do ‘deals’ with the media,’ they said.
‘Like Harry, he is scarred by his childhood experiences, seeing his mother and father engaged in what was dubbed “the war of the Waleses”. He never wanted history to repeat itself.
‘That was something that he and Harry were meant to be united on.’
Another added: ‘It’s one thing writing a critique of the Royal Family. That’s freedom of expression.
‘But it’s another thing to peddle conspiracy theories dressed up as fact. The suggestion that [royal aides] were briefing negative stories [about Harry and Meghan] is totally fabricated. It just didn’t happen.
‘The truth is that everyone was walking on eggshells practically from the engagement trying to keep them happy.’
The book further claims William ignored Harry’s calls as the late Queen Elizabeth II lay dying last year.
Mr Scobie writes: ‘By the next morning, the Sussexes had no idea that Buckingham Palace was already planning for the Queen’s final hours and the first days of the monarchy’s new era — until the duke’s phone started ringing. An unknown number. He usually ignored those.’
A Royal insider responded: ‘It appears no matter what happens behind closed doors, even in a time of such pain and grief, that where the Royal Family are concerned it will one day emerge.
‘Nothing is off limits with William and Kate appearing to be this author’s number one target.
‘It only takes a few months for the knives to come out again and the wounds to be opened up.’
Kensington Palace has not yet publicly commented on the claims or the book.
Harry and Meghan have moved to distance themselves from it and Scobie has claimed he is not part of the ‘Sussex camp’.
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