In a surprising turn of events, Scobie, a close associate of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, acknowledged that the Dutch version of 'Endgame' included the names of the two royals who allegedly expressed concerns about Prince Archie's skin color before his birth.
The book's revelation faced criticism from royal experts and historians, accusing Scobie of orchestrating a publicity stunt to enhance sales.
Initially denying the inclusion of the names in his bombshell book, Scobie has now executed a dramatic about-face after a week of controversy.
On Friday, he admitted to providing an "early and uncleared text" to the Dutch publisher, explaining that it was meant for translation purposes and would later be updated to align with the final version he officially submitted.
In a column for inews, Scobie clarified, "To be clear, the only publisher I worked directly with was the one covering the US and UK," emphasizing the extensive legal scrutiny he underwent to ensure the book's content was legally sound.
Contradicting his earlier statement on ITV's Good Morning Britain, where he asserted never submitting a book with named individuals, Scobie's admission adds a layer of complexity to the controversy.
In response to Scobie's comments, Dutch translator Saskia Peeters asserted that the names were present in the original text. "As a translator, I translate what is in front of me. The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them," she stated, maintaining her role as a faithful interpreter.
Despite the swift removal of the book from shelves, the damage was already done. Former Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan publicly revealed the names on air, and subsequent news outlets followed suit.
It's noteworthy that Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's wife, initially disclosed in her interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 that a member of the royal family had discussed the potential skin color of her firstborn child without revealing the individual's identity.
