Dutch first editions of the book “Endgame,” which allegedly names two members of the British royal family in connection with discussions about the skin color of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s unborn baby, are in high demand, with prices on resale websites soaring to €175, far above the original retail price of €22.99.
As speculation swirled in the British press about whether the Dutch version of the book contained mistranslations, failed to incorporate final edits, or was part of a publicity stunt, bids for Dutch copies on Marktplaats reached €175 (£150) on Thursday.
The Dutch translation of Omid Scobie’s “Endgame,” titled “Eindstrijd,” reportedly contains references to two senior royals in relation to speculation about baby Archie’s potential skin color. Dutch journalists identified these references on pages 128 and 334.
Jeroen van der Boom, a presenter on RTV Boulevard, displayed the first edition on television, describing it as a “collector’s item” and indicating that two names were mentioned in the book. He mentioned that senior royals allegedly discussed the skin color of Archie during Megan’s pregnancy, with one of the names being “Charles” on page 128 and the other being “the Princess of Wales” on page 334.
Scobie suggested that there might have been a translation error, noting that the book is available in multiple languages, but he cannot speak Dutch to verify. He stated that there has never been a version he produced that includes names.
Rick Evers, a journalist who initially revealed the names in the book, hinted on social media that it was clear who the second royal referred to by title would have been.
Van der Boom speculated that the publisher might have been instructed to remove certain names but missed a couple. However, the publisher has not provided details, and the book disappeared from online listings while being removed from Dutch stores.
Xander Uitgevers, the Dutch publisher, referred inquiries to a statement on its website, explaining that a corrected edition of “Eindstrijd” will be available in bookstores. The publisher temporarily removed the book from sale due to an error in the Dutch edition.