Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Piers Morgan explains why he named Charles and Kate as ‘royal racists’ in Omid Scobie book - live

The Dutch version of Endgame was pulled from the shelves, the publisher dismissing the edition containing the names as a ‘translation error’

Shweta Sharma,Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Monday 04 December 2023 16:00 GMT
TV host Piers Morgan defended his decision to identify the two members of the royal family at the centre of the furore, saying it was “blindingly obvious” they were not guilty of racism.

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Piers Morgan has explained why he named the two allegedly “racist” members of the royal family featured in a Dutch translation of new book Endgame.

Earlier this week, the broadcaster decided to name the Princess of Wales and King Charles as the two senior royals inadvertently identified in an excerpt from Omid Scobie’s book about the royal racism scandal involving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2021.

At the time, he said: “If Dutch people wandering into a bookshop can see these names, then you, the British people who actually pay for the royal family are entitled to know, too.”

Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan are yet to break their silence after the Dutch translation of Omid Scobie’s book Endgame identified them both at the centre of a racism row.

A source close to the royal family has called on the Sussexes to speak out and defend their relatives as their silence is “deafening”, according to The Telegraph.

Charles dons Greek flag tie in meeting with Sunak

Meanwhile in Dubai, the King has worn a tie with a Greek flag motif for a meeting with prime minister Rishi Sunak - just days after the politician snubbed his Greek counterpart in a row over the Parthenon Sculptures.

Charles chatted to Mr Sunak during the opening day of Cop28, the UN Climate Change summit being staged in Dubai, sporting the neckwear decorated with the blue and white flag.

The prime minister sparked a diplomatic row by controversially cancelling a planned meeting in London on Tuesday with Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The decision came after Mr Mitsotakis used an interview ahead of the talks to push for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures.

Greece has long demanded the return of the historic works, which were removed by Lord Elgin from occupied Athens in the early 19th century when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

The King has close ties to Greece through his father Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, who was born on the Greek island of Corfu, to parents Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg, before becoming a naturalised British subject in 1947.

King Charles III (left) speaks with prime minister Rishi Sunak as they attend the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit
King Charles III (left) speaks with prime minister Rishi Sunak as they attend the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit (PA)

Katy Clifton1 December 2023 19:00

William competing with King for control, Scobie claims

The Prince of Wales is competing with his father for control of the royal family, author Omid Scobie has claimed in his new, book:

William desperately competing with Charles to run royal family, claims Scobie book

Sensational new book from royal journalist Omid Scobie suggests a growing ‘rift’ between Charles and William

Jane Dalton1 December 2023 20:50

King to consult advisers on family’s next step

The King is taking the furore over the Omid Scobie book “very seriously” and will consult senior advisers next week on the family’s next step, it’s been reported.

This includes the possibility of legal action, according to MailOnline.

Jane Dalton1 December 2023 21:31

Young William and Kate share a kiss in The Crown part two

A young Prince William and Kate Middleton are seen leaning in for a kiss in the trailer for part two of the sixth series of The Crown.

The second half of the hit royal drama’s final season, which will be released on December 14, explores a number of historical events, including the death of Princess Margaret and the Queen’s golden jubilee.

Jane Dalton1 December 2023 22:00

Meghan source denies leaking names to Scobie

Sources close to the Duchess of Sussex, who allegedly wrote in letters to King Charles the names of the two family members she accused of ‘racist’ comments, have insisted that she ‘never intended them to be publicly identified’ and that they were ‘not leaked to Mr Scobie by anyone in her camp’, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Jane Dalton1 December 2023 22:30

10 explosive claims from Endgame

These are some of the biggest alleged revelations from Endgame:

10 explosive claims from Omid Scobie’s scathing new book Endgame

Finding Freedom author’s latest ‘insider’ book tackles Prince William’s ambitions and his relationship with father Charles

Jane Dalton1 December 2023 23:15

Analysis: Charles should be King of Cop, but has Harry rained on his parade?

Omid Scobie’s hit piece against the royal family has distracted attention from the effort to fight climate change, writes Sean O’Grady:

Charles should be King of Cop, but has Harry rained on his parade? | Sean O’Grady

Omid Scobie’s hit piece against the royal family has distracted attention from the effort to fight climate change, writes Sean O’Grady – a cause to which the Sussexes claim to be passionately committed

Jane Dalton2 December 2023 00:15

King animated talking to Sunak

The King looked animated when speaking to PM Rishi Sunak at the Dubai climate talks, where he set out an action plan for tackling the climate crisis.

(PA)
Jane Dalton2 December 2023 01:35

King’s five-point plan as he urges trillions of dollars to go to tackle climate crisis

King Charles has set out an action plan for tackling the climate crisis based on five key suggestions at Cop28, saying up to five trillion dollars will be needed each year:

Charles’s five-point plan as he urges trillions of dollars to tackle climate crisis

King suggests using private finance and increasing green agriculture funding to forge ‘new vision for 100 years’

Jane Dalton2 December 2023 02:55

Harry and Meghan called to break their ‘deafening’ silence - report

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been urged to defend King Charles and Princess Camilla, sources close to the family said, amid a racism row.

A source close to the royal family has called on the Sussexes to speak out and defend their relatives as their silence is “deafening”, according to The Telegraph.

“For the couple that talked about ‘death by a thousand no comments’, the silence at this point is deafening,” the source said.

Another individual characterised the choice to refrain from addressing the allegations as “interesting”, particularly considering that the Sussexes had previously lodged multiple complaints about lacking defense against unfavourable media coverage during their time at the palace.

It comes as public figures are pressuring the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to speak out as the pair have remained silent over accusations that the King and the Queen raised concerns about the skin colour of Prince Harry and Meghan’s son, Archie, before he was born.

Shweta Sharma2 December 2023 03:55

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in