Buckingham Palace hints at legal action after royals named in race row

Buckingham Palace is said to be “exploring all options” over the naming in a new book of two royals alleged to have discussed the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s unborn son, in a hint legal action could be on the table.

When asked by the BBC about reports that legal proceedings were being considered over the naming of the senior royals, a palace spokesperson told the broadcaster “we’re exploring all options”.

Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment.

King Charles and the Princess of Wales were named in the Dutch version of the book Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival by Omid Scobie as taking part in conversations about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s unborn son.

The broadcaster Piers Morgan used his TalkTV show on Wednesday to name the royals mentioned in the now pulled and pulped translated version of Scobie’s book.

On Thursday night Scobie told BBC Newsnight he did not know how the Dutch translation of the book came to include the names.

He swore “on my life” the naming was not a stunt. He said a “full investigation” was being conducted to find out how the names were included, adding that the English version “I wrote, the book I edited, didn’t have names in it”.

During an interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, Meghan claimed at least one member of the royal family had had “conversations” with Harry about their unborn baby’s skin colour.

The Dutch royal reporter Rick Evers posted a video pointing out the passages in the book that named Charles and Catherine in connection with the allegation.

On Wednesday night, Morgan repeated the claims, saying he was doing so to prompt an open debate.

He told his viewers: “I’m going to tell you the names of the two senior royals who are named in that Dutch version of the book because, frankly, if Dutch people wandering into a bookshop 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.”

Charles and Catherine were also named in reports by media, including the BBC, and the Times.

The book’s publishers, Xander, said a re-edited Dutch version of the book, without the names, would appear in bookshops in the Netherlands on Friday.