No Christmas peace with the British royals

Royal houses - No Christmas peace with the British royals

For the second year in a row, a book is spoiling the royals' pre-Christmas mood. While it was Prince Harry's autobiography "Reserve" in 2022, it is now "Endgame" by Omid Scobie. While there had already been speculation about a rapprochement between King Charles III and his younger son Prince Harry, any prospect of a Christmas truce may now be a thing of the past.

The content of "Endgame" is unlikely to annoy Charles and Co. The main problem is a passage that, according to the author, should not even exist. But the Dutch version contained the names of two British royals who Harry's wife Duchess Meghan had accused of expressing concern about the skin color of their then unborn children. According to consistent British media reports, they are Charles and Princess Kate, the wife of Harry's brother Prince William.

It is unclear how the names appeared in the Dutch version, which was withdrawn from sale at short notice. Author Scobie claims that he never wrote the names down. The translators stated that they were in the version submitted to them. The Times recently reported that the names were in the preliminary version that Scobie's agency had sent to the Dutch publisher, but not in the later final edition.

"Deafening silence"

What exacerbates the dispute between Harry and Meghan on the one hand and the rest of the Royal Family on the other is the silence. The silence of the couple, who have lived in California for years, is deafening, the Telegraph quoted people close to the royal family as saying. "They could stop it if they wanted to," said constitutional lawyer Craig Prescott from London's Royal Holloway University.

British media regard Scobie, who had already contributed to another book about Harry and Meghan, as the couple's mouthpiece. By not distancing themselves from Scobie, they have made their position in the family dispute clear, said royals expert Prescott. "If they wanted a rapprochement, this would have been a good opportunity." According to the Daily Mail, Charles is furious. Even a lawsuit is possible.

But how much of a burden is it on the monarchy that the king, of all people, is named in connection with comments that some observers have deemed racist? Is "Endgame" becoming the endgame for the monarchy?

White men in top positions

Royals expert Prescott does not believe that Charles is at risk. The king has done a lot for multiculturalism and religious peace, and his commitment to the Commonwealth, most of whose members have black majorities, is recognized. Those who have a positive attitude towards the King will not change their minds. Rather, the royals should ask themselves why modern British society is not reflected in the royal household, said Prescott. Top offices such as private secretaries are held by white men.

The BBC does not see "Endgame" as a central challenge for the monarchy either. The title suggests that the institution is in serious trouble, the broadcaster wrote in its review. "But this is not the book that will sink it."

Fear of a new scandal

Much more dangerous for the royals would be a new scandal like the one surrounding Charles' brother Prince Andrew. He has hardly been seen in public since an American woman accused him of sexually abusing her as a teenager some 20 years ago. A civil lawsuit in the USA was allegedly avoided in exchange for a payment of millions. But a similar caliber would lead many subjects to believe that Andrew was not an isolated case, but an institutional problem, Prescott said.

Secondly, demographics. Young people speaking out against the monarchy in polls is nothing new. Now, however, more and more people seem to be maintaining this stance as they grow older. The political stability and economic security that many associated with the 70-year reign of Charles' mother Queen Elizabeth II is over, said Prescott. The current problems with high taxes and living costs are also associated with the king - as he is the head of state.

With William and Kate, there are also only two active younger royals. But many people find them too boring. With Harry and Meghan, two potential representatives who could also break new ground have disappeared, as Prescott said.

Many people are also simply "fed up with royals". From William and Kate's wedding in 2011 to Charles' coronation in May 2023, the British have experienced more than a decade of royal drone, Prescott said. "The Royal Family needs to get boring again, just do their thing and stay away from controversy as much as possible." From the palace's point of view, only one concern remains: the unpredictability of the couple Meghan and Harry.