The Dutch translator who worked on Omid Scobie’s controversial book has insisted that the names of two royals at the center of the racism scandal were in the manuscript she received.
Saskia Peeters says that she did not add the names to the Dutch version of the book Endgame.
Speaking from her home in Arnhem, she told MailOnline: ‘As a translator, I translate what is in front of me.
‘The names of the royals were there in black and white. I didn’t add them.
‘I just did what I was paid to do and that was translate the book from English to Dutch.’
Dutch translator Saskia Peeters (pictured today), who worked on Omid Scobie’s controversial book, has insisted that the names of two royals at the center of the racism scandal were included in the manuscript she was sent
Her claims appear to contradict those of Scobie (pictured today), who told ITV’s This Morning he did not mention the names of the two royals
Saskia says she did not add the names to the Dutch version of the book Endgame (photo)
Her claims appear to contradict those of Scobie, who told ITV’s This Morning he had not included the names of the two royals accused of discussing the skin color of Harry and Meghan’s son Archie when he completed submitted the manuscript to his publisher.
“I never submitted a book that had these names in it,” Scobie insisted today.
Mentioning the names led to 5,000 copies of the book – called ‘Final Battle’ in the Netherlands – being withdrawn from sale and pulverized on the bookshelves.
Bookstores were ordered to remove the paperback from their shelves and return it to the publisher. The book will go on sale again next week.
TV presenter Piers Morgan has since revealed the couple’s names on his evening show.
Mrs. Peeters was clearly shocked and nervous by the storm her translation caused.
She does not want to say when she received the manuscript from the Dutch publisher Xander Uitgevers.
She said the pages were distributed to herself and fellow translator Nellie Keukellar-van Rijsbergen to transcribe.
When the book’s author, Scobie, denied the names were in his manuscript, Ms. Peters said: ‘I don’t know why he would say that.
‘I have been translating for years. This is the first time something like this has happened.
‘This is not something I wanted to be involved in. This was disturbing. I don’t want to talk about it much anymore.’
The inclusion of the names led to 5,000 copies of the book – called ‘Final Battle’ (photo) in the Netherlands – being withdrawn from sale on bookshelves and pulverized into pulp.
Ms Peters and her colleague Keukellar-van Rijsbergen are credited with the translation in the foreword to the book which is described as ‘toxic’ due to its attacks on the royal family, particularly Charles, Camilla and the Princess of Wales.
It is clear that they received the English version of End Game from Xander Uitgevers.
Mr Scobie, 42, issued a statement yesterday afternoon insisting it was an “error in translation” in the Dutch version and that he was “glad” it was corrected.
But the Dutch publisher today simply referred to ‘an error that occurred in the Dutch edition’ – without any reference to a translation issue, suggesting there may be a dispute over what actually happened.
Ms Peeters’ colleagues said it would be “unthinkable” for the experienced translators to add the names without contacting the publisher.
Paul Janse, director of a book translation service, says: ‘I find it really inconceivable that a translator would mention names that do not appear in the English version, especially when it concerns such a sensitive issue.
‘For me it makes no sense. As a book translator you work with what is in front of you. I think they used a version with the names in it.”
Another experienced book translator from Amsterdam also said that the pair responsible for the Dutch version of End Game would not have written the names unless they were already in the manuscript.
“Why would they choose these specific names out of all the names they could use,” the translator said.
‘They are very experienced professionals who have many credits to their name. Why would they risk this and who’s to say they have the right names?’
Peeters has more than 20 years of experience in translating books from English into Dutch, including works of fiction and cookbooks.
Her colleague has translated books for bestselling authors Nicholas Sprks and Wilbur Smith.
It comes as well-placed sources told the Mail that Buckingham Palace is today ‘considering all options’ over the royal racing row sparked by Scobie’s ‘toxic’ new book.
Sources say that while King Charles is determined to focus on key state affairs in Dubai, where he is holding bilateral meetings ahead of delivering a keynote opening address at the COP28 summit on Friday, aides are seriously reviewing how, if at all, to answers.
While it is clear that courtiers will look at the various legal options open to them, it is incredibly unlikely that they will actually sue Scobie. They don’t want to get involved in a lengthy legal battle.
But a source told the Mail: ‘I understand the palace is considering all options open to them.
“The most important thing for them, however, is that His Majesty responds in the most eloquent way by getting on with business and not letting it distract from much more important issues regarding the future of the planet and bilateral relations with other world leaders, including those who affected by the situation. in the Middle East.’