Author Omid Scobie has found himself at the center of a storm after a Dutch version of his book, “Endgame,” was pulled from shelves due to a “translation error.” The book supposedly named the King and Princess of Wales as the members of the Royal Family who expressed concerns about the skin color of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son, Archie, before his birth. Scobie initially denied any involvement in submitting a version of the book containing these names. However, Scobie has now admitted that an early draft, which included the King and princess, was indeed submitted to the Dutch translators without his knowledge or consent.
In his column for the i newspaper, Scobie addressed the “backlash” against his book and tried to shed light on the situation. He claimed to have been “confused” about the Dutch version and was attempting to piece together what had happened. According to Scobie, the early and uncleared text was provided to the Dutch publisher with the understanding that their translation would be updated to reflect the final version of the book he officially submitted. He maintains that he carefully edited the final version that he submitted and that the Dutch edition does not accurately represent his work. Other foreign-language publishers, in France and Italy, apparently followed the same process but managed to replicate the completed work accurately.
In a widely publicized interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, claimed that an unidentified member of the monarchy had “concerns and conversations about how dark [Archie’s] skin might be when he’s born.” It’s important to note that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were explicitly exempted from these allegations. Following the interview’s broadcast, the Queen issued a statement emphasizing that the issues raised, particularly those related to race, were “concerning.” However, she also mentioned that “some recollections may vary,” leaving room for interpretation and contradicting narratives.
Pushing Back against Accusations
Amidst the controversy, Scobie used his newspaper column to address and refute certain claims. He strongly denounced the offensive allegations that the entire royal row was a mere publicity stunt orchestrated to promote his book. Furthermore, he expressed the need for the Royal Family to engage in a profound exploration of its historic ties to slavery and engage in serious conversations about its treatment of Meghan. Scobie criticized the institution for avoiding a proper and sincere attempt to modernize and reflect the diverse country it serves, accusing them of sweeping these issues “under the rug.”
The Royal Family’s Silence
As of now, Buckingham Palace has not officially commented on the specific controversy surrounding Scobie’s book. The silence from the Royal Family has only fueled further speculation and debate. Many are eagerly waiting for an official statement clarifying the situation and addressing concerns regarding race and diversity within the monarchy.
A Call for Transparency and Genuine Progress
The controversy surrounding Omid Scobie’s book highlights the ongoing complexities within the British Royal Family. It exposes alleged conversations about Archie’s skin color and raises questions about the institution’s treatment of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. This incident presents an opportunity for the Royal Family to embark on a meaningful journey of self-reflection, addressing historical ties to slavery, and genuinely striving for progress and inclusivity. It remains to be seen whether the palace will seize this moment to foster transparency and demonstrate a commitment to change.
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