One critic, a Dutch journalist known for revealing the names of royal family members involved in discrimination, meticulously analyzed the extensive alterations made to the book. He highlighted the glaring disparities between the newly published version and the original version removed from bookshelves. Most notably, the revised version now includes the names of two family members who had reportedly expressed concerns about the color of Prince Archie's skin, raising concerns about the book's authenticity.
Further scrutiny revealed that references to Scobie's sources had been systematically replaced with references to BBC News, causing doubts about the reliability of these sources and whether they had been coerced into silence.
The alterations in Scobie's book extended beyond surface-level changes, affecting titles, such as Queen Camilla becoming Queen Camila and Catherine's name changed to Kate. These modifications underscore the influence of the Sussex camp on the text, suggesting an agenda-driven approach.
It was also suggested that different quotes from sources close to Harry and Meghan were used in the revised versions, implying an attempt to manipulate the narrative to their advantage.
Scobie initially refused to name individuals in the book, but these revelations have shed light on conflicts and the need for transparency. Scobie's attempts to blame the publisher and imply that they worked on an early, unapproved version were debunked by the publisher, who asserted the accuracy of their account.
In addition to these revelations, there are concerns about the commercial success of Scobie's book. Despite employing various PR tactics and generating scandals, the book failed to make it into the top 10 in its first week of release. This has led to questions about Scobie's ability to repay his advance and the implications of any royalty-sharing agreement with co-writer Meghan Markle.
In light of these developments, there are uncertainties surrounding Scobie's future prospects as an author, given the controversies he has faced and the potential risks for financial backers.
