Demand Soars for Dutch First Editions of Book Naming UK Royals in Race Row

GUARDIAN EUROPE: Copies of book about British monarchy changing hands on resale websites for up to €175

A woman reads Eindstrijd (Endgame) by Omid Scobie. Photograph: Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters
Dutch first editions of the book Endgame, which names two members of the British royal family alleged to have discussed the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s unborn baby, are selling online for many times above the original retail price of €22.99.

As parts of the British press reached fever pitch trying to find out whether the Dutch version had contained a mistranslation, or had failed to adopt final excisions or was running a strange publicity stunt, bids for a Dutch version on Marktplaats on Thursday reached €175 (£150).

After first editions of Eindstrijd, the Dutch translation of Omid Scobie’s Endgame, went on sale, Dutch journalists said the book contained the names of two senior royals in connection with speculation about the potential skin colour of Harry and Megan’s son, Archie, on pages 128 and 334. » | Senay Boztas in Amsterdam | Saturday, December 2, 2023

Prince Harry and Meghan urged to back King amid racism row: Duke and Duchess told to end 'deafening silence' as supporters come forward to defend royals after fallout from Omid Scobie book »

'Most Immigrants Are Fruit Pickers': Labour MP Sparks Race Row with 'Ignorant' Claim

MAIL ONLINE: Glenda Jackson was plunged into a race row last night after she suggested migrants were engaged in ‘picking strawberries’ and ‘digging up potatoes’.

Labour leader Ed Miliband faced calls to discipline the MP for Hampstead and Kilburn in north London after her comments were condemned as ‘incredibly ignorant’.

The extraordinary statement by the Oscar-winning actress came in a clash with Chris Grayling, the Work and Pensions minister. Read on and comment » | Gerri Peev | Thursday, June 09, 2011

Race Row Ignited in Australia after Former Coach Calls Aboriginal Footballers 'Cannibals'
THE TELEGRAPH: A race row has erupted in Australian sport after a senior Australian Football League figure referred to Aboriginal players as "cannibals" who could not be seen in the dark.

Mal Brown. Photo: The Telegraph
In a speech at a charity lunch in Melbourne, Mal Brown, a former coach and player, said that when he was making his team selection at a night-time game years ago he couldn't pick Aboriginal players out because of poor lighting at the ground.

"We had a distinct disadvantage, the West Australians, because the Victorians picked both sides," Mr Brown said. "They cheated, they picked the best players. And because there were no (stadium) lights, I couldn't pick any of the cannibals.

"I couldn't pick (Aboriginals) Nicky Winmar or Michael Mitchell or Chrissy Lewis. All the good black fellows, we couldn't pick them because they couldn't see them in the light." >>> Bonnie Malkin in Sydney | Thursday, June 17, 2010

Michelle Obama Evening Dress Sparks Race Row Over 'Nude' Description
THE TELEGRAPH: From the moment she stepped into the limelight, Michelle Obama was feted as the 'First Lady of Fashion'.

Michelle Obama at the state dinner with President Barrack Obama. Photo: The Telegraph
She was hailed as the successor to Jackie Kennedy, with the style press rhapsodising over her ability to carry off High Street buys and glittering designer gowns with equal panache.

One dress, however, has sent ripples through the fashion world for rather different reasons. Mrs Obama's choice of gown for a State dinner has sparked a debate about race and the delicate matter of whether one can call a dress colour 'nude' when it really depends on the wearer.

The dress in question, which Mrs Obama wore to meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the White House, was described by the designer as a "sterling-silver sequin, abstract floral, nude strapless gown".

That simple description has now caused a stir. "We talk of nude now and there is no one colour. It's politically incorrect," said Gale Epstein, founder of the US lingerie brand Hanky Panky. "There is a wide range for skin tone colours. Human skins tones are a whole colour palette unto themselves." Miss Epstein prefers to use a range of names, from "light chai" to "espresso", to describe her wares.

The Associated Press news agency was compelled to revise its reference to the dress colour from "flesh" to "champagne" after one fashion editor objected, asking: "Whose flesh? Not hers." >>> Anita Singh, Showbusiness Editor | Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Radio Race Row at BBC's Flagship Asian Station
THE INDEPENDENT: Angry Sikhs besiege Asian Network over Muslim's 'joke'

The BBC's Asian Network was at the centre of a fresh race row last night after Sikhs accused the digital radio station of being insensitive towards their religion.

BBC bosses were forced to remove a show by the popular Muslim presenter Adil Ray from their website after the morning show DJ received threats from angry Sikh listeners who accused him of denigrating an important religious symbol.

The Birmingham-based network, which was set up eight years ago after the BBC's then director general Greg Dyke described his own organisation as "hideously white", has strongly denied the accusations or any suggestion that Ray meant to mock Sikhism.

But the anger from the Sikh community has nonetheless raised fresh questions over whether the digital network is serving its Asian listeners. Earlier this year, the BBC Trust told the network that it needed to attract more listeners after its audience fell from half a million to 405,000 in a year.

The complaints revolve around a show broadcast on Thursday 6 August in which Ray discussed the cancellation of a Punjabi music concert in Canada where police had banned a number of Sikhs who refused to remove their "kirpan" dagger – one of five ceremonial symbols that baptised Sikhs are expected to wear at all times.

A number of listeners believed that Ray had been disparaging about whether Sikhs really needed to carry their kirpans and began making complaints and threats against him. >>> Jerome Taylor, Religious Affairs Correspondent | Thursday, August 20, 2009

Prince Harry in New Race Row after Telling Comedian Stephen K Amos 'You Don't Sound Black'
Photo of Stephen K. Amos courtesy of Google Images
Prince Harry has become embroiled in a new race row after allegedly telling a comedian, Stephen K Amos, that he did not "sound like a black chap".

Mr Amos has claimed that the Prince made the remark when they met after the stand-up show We Are Not Amused for the Prince of Wales' 60th birthday celebrations in November 2008.

Mr Amos, from south-west London, made the disclosure on Five's The Wright Stuff on Tuesday.

He told presenter Matthew Wright that Prince Harry, 24, congratulated him on his performance before saying: "You don't sound like a black chap."

As Mr Wright looked on in disbelief, Mr Amos added: "I wanted to say, 'How is [sic] I supposed to sound?'"

Asked if the remark had been made in jest, he replied: "I hope it was."

The comedian, who has appeared on many television shows including the BBC's Have I Got News For You, put the comment down to a poor attempt at making banter.

However, fellow panellist Lowri Turner, the television presenter, then said: "That's not the point."

The new row comes just a month after Prince Harry was accused of racism when it emerged he had referred to a Sandhurst colleague as "our little Paki friend". >>> By Lucy Cockcroft | Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – USA)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardcover – USA)

Blair Axes Race Accuser in Showdown
EVENING STANDARD: Police chief Tarique Ghaffur was personally stripped of his duties in a face to face meeting with Sir Ian Blair today.

Britain's most senior Asian officer was "temporarily relieved" of being in charge of the Olympics security and Central Operations at Scotland Yard. It came after Mr Ghaffur publicly accused Met boss Sir Ian of racism and of plotting to oust him during a televised press conference.

His accusations plunged the Met into the worst race row since the Macpherson report into the Stephen Lawrence case and led to further criticism of Sir Ian's leadership. In another development this afternoon, the Metropolitan Police Authority announced it had launched an investigation into 53-year-old Mr Ghaffur for "potential grounds for misconduct".

The MPA, which oversees the Met, said it would appoint a chief constable from another force to carry out the inquiry. Blair Axes Race Accuser in Showdown >>> By Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent | September 9, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (UK) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (UK) >>>