The British monarchy finds itself in turbulent waters again with new revelations from royal biographer Omid Scobie's upcoming book, "Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival." Leaked excerpts from the book have shed light on King Charles III's frustration with his son Prince Harry, particularly in the wake of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Netflix docuseries, which aired in December 2022.
According to Scobie, the release of "Harry & Meghan" left the palace in disarray, with one aide quoted saying, "[The show] took the wind out of everyone's sails." The book claims that this series, coupled with the couple's candid interviews, pushed King Charles to a point of open criticism, referring to Harry as "that fool." The leak also suggests that the King felt overshadowed by the media attention garnered by the Sussexes.
Moreover, the book delves into the aftermath of Meghan and Harry's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. Scobie alleges that letters exchanged between Meghan and King Charles addressed the controversial discussion about Prince Archie's skin color. The letters reportedly show that while there were no "hard feelings" over the specific incident, a lot remained unresolved.
Scobie, who also co-authored the 2020 book "Finding Freedom," which first detailed Harry and Meghan's perspective on their royal exit, has been criticized for his proximity to the Sussexes. However, he insists that "Endgame" is not "Harry and Meghan's book" and that he is not part of the 'Sussex camp.'
"Endgame" also touches on the relationship between Prince William and Prince Harry, suggesting that there is "irreparable damage" between them. Scobie's portrayal of Prince William as someone who prioritizes loyalty to the monarchy over his brother has sparked outrage among William's supporters. They have condemned the allegations as conspiracy theories masquerading as facts.
In the backdrop of these revelations, there are reports that despite the strain, Harry and Meghan are making efforts to mend their relationship with King Charles. They reportedly called to wish him on his 75th birthday and sent a video of their children singing "Happy Birthday."
As "Endgame" is set to hit shelves on November 28, it promises to stir more debates and discussions about the ongoing dynamics within the British royal family. The palace has yet to comment on the book's allegations, but the tension it highlights between key members of the monarchy is undeniable.
