Harry and Meghan were left ‘confused and upset’ with the Waleses lack of contact after two royals made comments about Archie’s skin tone, Omid Scobie claims – amid accusations his brother ‘disliked’ the duchess from the start
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were left ‘confused and upset’ after not hearing from Prince William and Kate Middleton for two years following their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, according to a new book by Omid Scobie.
The royal author, whose new book Endgame is released at midnight tonight, said the two couples had not spoken since the Sussexes’ controversial comments about the royal family’s treatment of Meghan.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sparked the race row during their interview with Oprah in March 2021 by claiming that a member of the royal family, who they did not name, had commented on their son Archie’s skin color.
In the book, Mr Scobie claims the two royals who commented on Archie’s skin color were revealed in letters between Megan Markle and King Charles.
Mr Scobie also says that in these letters, King Charles encouraged Meghan to discuss her feelings with the Princess of Wales. However, in the aftermath of the interview, the reporter says that the two brothers and their wives have not yet spoken.
The royal author, whose new book Endgame is released at midnight tonight, said the two couples had not spoken since the Sussexes’ controversial comments about the royal family’s treatment of Meghan.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sparked the race row during their interview with Oprah in March 2021 by claiming that a member of the royal family, who they did not name, had commented on their son Archie’s skin color.
Mr Scobie also says that in these letters, King Charles encouraged Meghan to discuss her feelings with the Princess of Wales
The only public comment Prince Willian made after the interview was his defense of the family: “We are not a racist family at all.”
Mr Scobie also says a Palace source told him the Waleses were pushing for the addition of a ‘memories may vary’ style clause to Buckingham Palace’s public response to the interview, with Kate saying she was ‘very passionate about defending the family’.
The royal reporter believes this response suggests Prince William and Kate may have disagreed with the Sussexes’ words.
A source close to Harry and Megan also told Mr Scobie that the silence has ’caused a lot of confusion and anxiety’.
The writer claims elsewhere in the book that a source told him that Prince William accused Harry of “defecting” to the US, further widening the already growing rift between the couple.
The future king considers his brother an ‘outsider’, Scobie writes, and has wanted to distance himself from the Duke of Sussex since his marriage to Meghan – whom he ‘hated from the start’.
According to the author, William and Kate have now become a ‘committed and driven team’, focused on their role in the family.
Mr Scobie said in the book: ‘Although they were remarkably close growing up, Harry’s decision to ‘defect’ to America (William’s choice of words, according to a source, not mine) has widened the already growing rift between the pair increases.
“Disappointed with Harry’s life decisions and rooted in his inflamed, renewed commitment to the Crown, William now views his brother as an outsider, especially since the publication of Harry’s memoirs.”
Royal author Omid Scobie gave an interview today airing on ABC’s Good Morning America
The future king considers his brother an “outsider”, Scobie writes, and has wanted to distance himself from the Duke of Sussex since his marriage to Meghan – whom he “hated from the start”.
A source close to Harry and Megan also told Mr Scobie that the silence “has caused a lot of confusion and anxiety
Mr Scobie also says a palace source told him the Waleses were pushing for a ‘memories may vary’ style clause to be added to Buckingham Palace’s public response to the interview, with Kate saying she was ‘very passionate about defending the family’.
Kate and Meghan chat together at Wimbledon in 2019
The book suggests that Harry could be ready for reconciliation with his family, with the prince reportedly saying: ‘I’m ready to forget. An apology or an explanation? Who cares at this point, right?’
The claim emerged last week in Paris Match.
Earlier this month it was suggested that there had been a thawing of relations after sources close to the prince leaked to selected media that he had a warm chat with his father when he called to wish him a happy 75th birthday.
However, it is unlikely that the publication of Endgame will do anything to bolster hopes that Harry will ever be reconciled with his family.
This is doubly true as Scobie will make a series of new personal attacks on senior royals including Charles, William and Kate.
Mr Scobie insists he is not friends with the Sussexes, nor has he had any direct contact with them over the book, and the Sussexes have denied being ‘connected’ to it.
But there is a certain level of detail that, if true, could only come from sources extremely close to the couple.