Translator at heart of royal racism row reveals what was really in manuscript
The translator who worked on the Dutch edition of a now-withdrawn version of Endgame reportedly claims the names of two royals accused of racist remarks were present in the manuscript she was given.
Omid Scobie's controversial new book on the British monarchy was chaotically pulled from shelves by the publisher Xander just hours after release in the Netherlands this week. The decision came over a passage that named King Charles and the Princess of Wales as the two people accused of discussing the skin colour of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son, Archie, before he was born. The same allegation was not present in international versions of the book.
Publishers originally blamed a translation error - but this explanation has now been retracted, as translators in the country said this could not have been the cause.
Omid Scobie's controversial book appeared to make allegations about two royals in its Dutch version (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
The claims are not featured in the English version of the book (Jonathan Buckmaster)Professional translators Saskia Peeters and Nellie Keukelaar-van Rijsbergern had been listed in the Dutch preface to 'End Game'. Today Mrs Peeters said she "doesn't know why" Mr Scobie would deny the names appeared in his manuscript. "The names of the royals were there in black and white," she told Mail Online. "I did not add them. I just did what I was paid to do and that was translate the book from English into Dutch."
Paul Janse, who heads a book translation service, told Mail Online: "I find it really unthinkable that a translator would mention names that weren't there in their English version, especially such a sensitive matter. As a book translator you work with what is in front of you." He added that he believed they "must have used a version with the names in it".
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The naming of the two royals across UK and international media has plunged the monarchy into crisis, overshadowing the King's vitally important visit to the COP28 environmental gathering in Dubai, where he is due to make a keynote speech tomorrow, arguing how government organisations, the private sector, and philanthropic organisations must come together if we are to save the planet from climate change.
Royal sources last night described “utter dismay” at the heart of the monarchy after the names of the alleged pair were shared on social media, trending on X for hours yesterday. Buckingham Palace is understood to be “considering all options”, including legal action. Well-placed sources said the royal family were “banded together in their utter condemnation” of the claims any member of the monarchy would use racist language.
When the Sussexes made their explosive allegations on Oprah in an interview broadcast around the world, they set in motion a public debate about who in the royal family might harbour such racially charged views. In a multicultural modern Britain, such allegations against the monarchy generated enormous debate on a matter of public importance, with Scobie's new book claiming to add to that public debate.
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