The Dutch edition of a highly anticipated book about the royal family has been temporarily withdrawn from sale by its publisher, Xander. The book, titled “Eindstrijd” in Dutch and “Endgame” in English, is authored by Omid Scobie, who has faced criticism and controversy after his work reportedly inadvertently revealed which royal family member commented on the skin colour of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s baby.

The Dutch edition withdrawal: unintended revelations

Xander issued a statement addressing the situation, stating, “An error occurred in the Dutch translation and is currently being rectified.” The publisher did not specify the nature of the error but emphasised its commitment to correcting it.

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This development is tied to a significant and well-publicised incident involving Markle, who, during an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, disclosed that a member of the British Royal Family had raised concerns about how dark her unborn child’s skin might be. This revelation sparked a firestorm of controversy and strained relations between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the rest of the royal family.

Prince Charles, who is now the king, swiftly dismissed claims that he was the royal involved, and Prince William publicly stated, “We are very much not a racist family.” Meanwhile, Prince Harry himself described the comment as a matter of “unconscious bias.”

The book by Scobie inadvertently named the royal at the centre of this controversy, reigniting tensions and adding to the already deep divide within the royal family. The revelations were widely seen as a “bombshell” that further deepened the crisis.

However, it’s important to note that the couple refused to reveal the identity of the royal family member who made the controversial comment. Winfrey has confirmed that Prince Philip and the late Queen were not the individuals involved.

Endgame clarifications: author Omid Scobie defends book

In his defence, Scobie asserted that he did not mention any names in his new book, stressing that he only wrote the English version and does not speak Dutch. He explained his position during an appearance on RTL Boulevard, a Dutch chat show, saying, “The book is in several languages, and unfortunately I do not speak Dutch. But if there are translation errors, the publisher will correct them. I wrote the English version. There was no version from me in which names were mentioned.”

Scobie’s book also delves into Markle’s response to the controversy. It claims that she wrote a letter to King Charles expressing her concerns about unconscious bias within the royal family. In the UK version of the book, Scobie wrote that Meghan revealed “two identities” of those “involved in the exchange,” but he added, “Laws in the United Kingdom prevent me from reporting who they were.”

The impact on the royal family

It’s worth noting that Scobie previously authored “Finding Freedom,” a biography detailing the Sussexes’ separation from the royal family. His new book aims to explore the monarchy’s “fight for survival.”

In the midst of this controversy, Scobie denied conducting an interview with the Duchess of Sussex for the book. Markle’s legal team had previously admitted in her legal battle with Associated Newspapers that she had allowed a close friend to communicate with Scobie and his co-author during the creation of “Finding Freedom.” In an article with The Times newspaper about “Endgame,” Scobie clarified he was “not friends” with the duchess, despite them having mutual acquaintances, highlighting that he relies on mutual friends for information and breaking details related to the Firm.

As the controversy surrounding the book continues to unfold, the Dutch publisher says the book will be back in stores on December 8th, according to ITV News royal producer Lizzie Robinson. This incident sheds more light on the complexities of the royal family’s struggles and controversies.