The Book That Shook the Monarchy
In November 2023, royal author Omid Scobie released Endgame, a book that would soon become one of the most controversial royal publications in recent memory. While initial interest from royal watchers appeared muted, the situation exploded when the Dutch translation, Eindstrijd, was hastily recalled from shelves after revealing the names of two senior royals allegedly involved in discussions about Prince Archie's skin colour.
The Translation Controversy Unfolds
The scandal erupted when Dutch readers discovered that translated copies of Endgame contained the identities of two royal family members who had reportedly expressed concerns about how dark Archie's skin might be before his birth. This directly contradicted the UK version, where Scobie claimed libel laws prevented him from naming the individuals involved.
What followed was a public blame game between Scobie and the book's Dutch translator, Saskia Peeters. Scobie initially denied including the names in his submitted manuscript, blaming a translation error. However, Peeters firmly countered this claim, telling The Daily Mail that the names were present in black and white in the original text she received for translation.
Speaking from her home in Arnhem, Peeters insisted: I just did what I was paid to do, and that was translate the book from English into Dutch. I have been translating for many years. This is the first time anything like this has happened.
Sales Figures Tell Their Own Story
Despite the global media frenzy, Endgame sold just under 6,500 copies in its first week after release on November 28, 2024. This performance paled in comparison to Scobie's previous work, Finding Freedom, which sold 31,000 copies in its first five days, and Prince Harry's autobiography Spare, which achieved remarkable sales of 467,183 copies - making it the fastest-selling non-fiction book since records began in 1998.
The book received harsh criticism from reviewers, with some dismissing it as a press release drafted by ChatGPT.
The Backstory: From Oprah to Endgame
The controversy traces back to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's explosive 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where the couple first revealed that concerns had been raised about Archie's skin colour within the royal family. During the interview, Meghan stated: All around this same time, we have in tandem the conversation of he won't be given security, he's not going to be given a title and also concerns and conversations as how dark his skin might be when he's born.
She notably refused to identify who had those conversations with Harry, saying it would be really damaging to them.
In response to the Oprah interview, Prince William publicly insisted: We're very much not a racist family, while Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of the late Queen acknowledging that the race issues raised were concerning and would be addressed privately.
Scobie's Changing Explanations
As pressure mounted, Scobie offered multiple explanations for the Dutch translation debacle. He eventually admitted in a column for the I paper that translators in the Netherlands had been sent an early and uncleared manuscript without his knowledge. He claimed that other foreign-language publishers received the correct version.
Scobie spent almost two months working with lawyers to ensure the book was legally watertight, though he acknowledged in his author's notes that the book had been written at lightning speed with insane translation times.
His publisher, Xander Uitgevers, who initially blamed a translation error, later rejected Scobie's public explanation of events.
The Aftermath and Ongoing Fallout
Despite the book's recall, the damage was done. Television presenter Piers Morgan named the royals on his TalkTV show, ensuring the identities spread worldwide. Although a revised version without the names was later restocked, the information had already gone viral.
During interviews promoting the book, Scobie denied speculation that the incident was a publicity stunt to boost sales, stating: I wish it was the case and confirming that an investigation was underway.
The controversy continues to raise questions about media responsibility, royal privacy, and the ongoing tensions between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family, ensuring that the conversation about race and the monarchy remains firmly in the public eye.
