OMID Scobie has today broken his silence after Piers Morgan named two Royal Family members at the centre of a “racism” storm.
The author of Endgame doubled down on his claim he didn’t name the pair amid a growing storm.
It comes after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sparked a race row in their bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview after claiming a royal asked about the colour of Archie’s skin[/caption] Scobie’s book was yesterday frantically being pulled from shelves in the Netherlands[/caption]Scobie defended himself – and the book – on ITV’s This Morning.
It comes as King Charles was seen with a smile ear-to-ear as he carried on as usual on a trip to Dubai.
The bombshell book claims that Meghan Markle named two people she accused of raising concerns over the colour of Archie’s skin in letters to the King.
In the English versions, Scobie says UK laws prevent him from naming names.
But in a passage in a translated version in the Netherlands, the legal excuse is missing and instead two royals were named.
The first was discovered on Tuesday, and the second on Wednesday.
This “error” saw the book frantically pulled from the shelves, with publishers saying a revised version would be on sale tomorrow.
Piers Morgan last night named the two royals on his TalkTV show.
He said: “I’m going to tell you names of the two Royals who are named in that Dutch version of this book.
“Because frankly if Dutch people wandering into a book shop can pick it up and see these names, then you British people here who actually pay for the British Royal Family… You’re entitled to know too.
“And then we can have a more open debate about this whole farrago.
“Because I don’t believe any racist comments were ever made by any of the Royal Family.
“And until there is actual evidence of those comments being made I will never believe it.
“But now we can start the process of finding out if they ever got uttered, what the context was, and whether there was any racial intent at all.
“Like I say, I don’t believe there was.”
Piers then went on to reveal their names.
It comes after Scobie denied responsibility for the Dutch translation of his new book “accidentally naming” a member of the Royal Family.
In the English versions of Endgame, Scobie – often called Meghan’s mouthpiece – says UK laws prevent him from naming names.
He writes that Charles had “reached out” to Meghan in written correspondence after the bombshell claim.
Scobie the writes: “But in pages of these private letters, two identities were revealed. Laws in the UK prevent me from reporting who they were.”
However, on page 128 of the Dutch edition, it reads: “But in those private letters an identity was revealed and confirmed.”
Then a passage on page 334 of the Dutch version reads: “Even after Meghan and Charles by letter discussed the probably unconscious bias within the family, after it was revealed that (name) and (name) took part in such conversations about Archie, (name) has avoided discussing the subject.”
Publishers Xander Uitgevers yesterday said they were seeking to remove Scobie’s work from bookshelves saying there had been an “error”.
They also confirmed an investigation is currently taking place.
The publisher said: “The rectified edition of Eindstrijd by Omid Scobie will be in bookstores on Friday 8 December.
“Xander Uitgevers temporarily removed the book from sale, due to an error that occurred in the Dutch edition.”
Speaking to Dutch TV last night Scobie defended his book, saying: “The book is in several languages, and unfortunately I do not speak Dutch.
“But if there are translation errors, I’m sure the publishers will have under control.
“I wrote and edited the English version. There’s never been no version that I’ve produced that has names in it.”
It is unclear how the gaffe has occurred.
Despite claims the book was being taken off the shelves The Sun found it on sale at 5pm in Amsterdam yesterday.
Scobie last night said there has “never” been a version of Endgame that “has names in it”.
The Sussexes sparked a race row in their 2021 Oprah Winfrey chat by alleging that an unnamed royal had asked about son Archie’s skin colour.
Last Saturday, The Sun revealed how Endgame would say Meghan named two people behind the comments in letters to King Charles.
In the English version, out yesterday, Mr Scobie writes: “In the pages of these private letters, two identities were revealed. UK laws prevent me from reporting who they were.”
But the Dutch version reads: “In those private letters, an identity was revealed and confirmed” — before going on to name a senior royal.
In recent days, Buckingham Palace has refused to say if they were taking action.
King Charles was seen with a smile ear-to-ear this morning as he faced down the drama[/caption]