This week, the editorial team at The Times, a prominent British newspaper, suggested that King Charles III should contemplate stripping his son, Prince Harry, and daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle, of their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles.
This call comes in light of “Endgame,” a recently released book that sharply criticizes the royal family, penned by Omid Scobie, an author often viewed as sympathetic to the couple.
Although Harry and Meghan have denied any connection to Scobie’s work, which features various anonymous claims about the monarchy, The Times argued that it is reasonable to assume the Sussexes might have at least approved of the book’s contents.
The editorial board stated that instead of seeking a quieter existence and mending family ties, Harry and Meghan appear to be inflicting significant damage on the reputation of the royal family and the institution itself.
Since the book’s release, which has stirred up considerable debate in the U.K., the couple has remained silent.
However, the controversy escalated globally when Dutch editions of “Endgame” implicated Charles and Kate Middleton in discussions surrounding alleged racial issues within the palace.
Meghan initially sparked this racial discourse during a widely viewed interview with Oprah Winfrey back in 2021, where she revealed unsettling conversations regarding the potential skin tone of her then-unborn child.
Sources close to the royal family have since indicated to The Telegraph that Meghan’s allegations lack substantial evidence.
Scobie claimed that Meghan had previously identified the two royals involved in these sensitive discussions in a private letter sent to Charles following her interview with Winfrey.
The former actress, who identifies as biracial, raised concerns about what she described as “unconscious bias” within the royal household.
Interestingly, Scobie refrained from naming these royals in the English version of “Endgame,” citing fears over U.K. libel laws.
Nevertheless, the identities were reportedly included in the Dutch translation, raising questions about how this information made its way into that edition.
In recent interviews, Scobie has been defensive, asserting that he is neither a mouthpiece for Harry and Meghan nor their close confidant.
He also expressed confusion over how the names appeared in the Dutch versions, denying any intention to leak them for publicity purposes.
In a BBC interview, he maintained that he feels no obligation to apologize to the royal family, stating that he stands by the integrity of his book, although it has been overshadowed by the controversy.
Despite the uproar, both Harry and Meghan have yet to comment on Scobie’s book or the allegations implicating Charles and Kate as participants in the so-called “royal racism.”
Meanwhile, sources close to Meghan have communicated to The Telegraph that she never aimed to name Charles or her sister-in-law publicly, insisting that Scobie did not acquire such information from their camp.
The Times editorial board expressed skepticism toward the idea that Harry and Meghan had no involvement with Scobie’s latest book, which marks his second critical take on the monarchy.
They recalled previous instances where the couple denied collaboration on Scobie’s earlier work, “Finding Freedom,” only for Meghan to later admit under oath that she had provided notes for discussions with Scobie.
Labeling Scobie’s book as a self-serving narrative of the royal family’s decline, The Times noted that while Harry and Meghan have distanced themselves from royal duties, they continue to hold onto their noble titles while simultaneously criticizing the institution.
The board described this behavior as hypocritical, suggesting that if the couple truly felt shame, they would relinquish their titles entirely.
As the editorial concluded, it pointed out that there are currently 30 dukes within Britain’s peerage, hinting that King Charles could consider trimming this number down to 29 without facing backlash.
Historically, there have been calls for the royal family to revoke Harry and Meghan’s titles, especially after they stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
While Charles possesses the authority to remove their Sussex titles—bestowed upon them by the late Queen Elizabeth II—the prince title and their place in the line of succession remain untouchable without an act of Parliament.
Experts on royal matters have voiced doubt regarding the likelihood of Charles stripping Harry and Meghan of their titles, regardless of future developments.
Renowned royal biographer Robert Jobson has stated that such an action would only provoke more media frenzy and achieve little of substance.
While the possibility of revoking titles seems unlikely, Buckingham Palace is reportedly weighing other responses to Scobie’s book, particularly considering legal avenues.
A source disclosed that all options are currently on the table as the palace navigates this complex situation.
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