01 December 2023 , 21:22
1254
0
Royal aides remained in crisis talks yesterday as sources claimed the Princess of Wales had a key role in hitting back against the race row allegations made by the Duchess of Sussex.
The monarchy is reeling after the King and Kate were named in the Dutch version of a new book by Omid Scobie, Endgame, where he claimed to know the identities of two royals who voiced “concerns” over the skin tone of Prince Harry and Meghan’s son, Archie. Royal sources hit back at the “wildly inaccurate” claims, calling them “a mendacious slur”.
Buckingham Palace is understood to still be taking legal advice over Mr Scobie’s claims, despite his insistence he bore no responsibility for the words that ended up in the Dutch translation. He said a full investigation was under way at the publishers, adding the English version “I wrote, the book I edited, didn’t have names in it”.
The Duchess of Cambridge pushed for the phrase "recollections may vary" to be used, it has been claimed (PA)The Duchess of Sussex revealed to Oprah Winfrey in 2021 how at least one member of the royal family had engaged in “conversations” with Harry about their child’s skin colour. Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of the late Queen at the time, saying: “The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.”
In his book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, ex-royal correspondent for The Times Valentine Low detailed alleged conversations between senior royal members and aides ahead of drafting the retort.
Kate Middleton swears by £19.99 rosehip oil that helps 'reduce wrinkles & scars'
Mr Low wrote: “While some have attributed “recollections may vary” to [Clive] Alderton [King Charles’ private secretary], more than one source has said the author was Jean-Christophe Gray, William’s new private secretary. At least two senior officials in other households were against its inclusion, because they feared it would rile Harry and Meghan. But once the phrase had been added to the draft, it was – according to another source – the Duchess of Cambridge who pressed home the argument it should remain. It was Kate who clearly made the point, ‘History will judge this statement and unless this phrase or a phrase like it is included, everything they have said will be taken as true.’”
Mr Low told The Mirror: “She thought it was a major accusation and one that should not go unanswered.”
The Duchess of Sussex alleged that at least one member of the royal family had engaged in “conversations” with Harry about her child’s skin colour (alexilubomirski/Instagram)A royal source said: “It’s all there [in Mr Low’s book]. That’s how it happened.” Equalities campaigner Sir Trevor Philips called the row “a nonsense”, saying: “There is no family of colour anywhere in the world where that conversation doesn’t take place.” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has refused to comment on the alleged racist remarks.
Saskia Peeters, the Dutch translator of Endgame, claimed to the Mail: “The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them.” The Prince and Princess of Wales did not appear to be affected on Thursday as they met singer Paloma Faith after the Royal Variety Performance.