King Charles III appeared in good spirits as he touched down in Dubai at the end of November 2024, just days after renewed controversy over Omid Scobie’s explosive royal book Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival. The monarch’s visit to the United Arab Emirates was timed around the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), a cause close to his heart and a continuation of decades of environmental advocacy. Yet this trip unfolded under the shadow of fresh headlines linking the royal family to one of the most delicate scandals in recent royal memory — the resurfacing of allegations about a conversation concerning the skin tone of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son, Archie, before his birth.
Despite the media storm, Charles seemed relaxed and composed as he began his solo tour. Meeting with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the first day of the visit, the King reportedly laughed when asked how he was feeling, replying with characteristic self-deprecation: “I’m all right very much, just about — having had a rather ancient birthday recently, recovering from the shock of that!” The quip, referring to his 75th birthday earlier in November, underscored his tendency to defuse tension with humor even as global speculation swirled around his family.
The Dubai trip marked Charles’s first solo engagement since his milestone birthday and was packed with appearances that reinforced his long-standing commitment to climate action. He inaugurated the Dubai campus of Heriot-Watt University, attended a Commonwealth and Nature reception, and launched the inaugural COP28 Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum. On Friday, he was slated to deliver the conference’s keynote speech, highlighting the urgency of global collaboration to confront environmental challenges — a theme that has defined his public life for over half a century.
Meanwhile, in Europe, Endgame was causing turmoil. The Dutch edition of the book was abruptly pulled from stores after readers discovered it appeared to name the royal family members alleged to have taken part in the conversation about Archie’s skin color — details that were notably omitted from the English version. Dutch publisher Xander Uitgevers and Scobie both issued statements to People calling the inclusion an “error.” Scobie clarified, “Having only written and edited the English version of Endgame, I can only comment on that manuscript — which does not name the two individuals who took part in the conversation. I’m happy to hear that the error in the translation of the Dutch edition is being fixed.” The publisher promised a corrected version would return to shelves by December 8.
Buckingham Palace, maintaining its usual restraint, declined to comment on the renewed allegations, and Kensington Palace — representing Prince William and Princess Kate — also remained silent. The controversy, however, reignited global debate about the monarchy’s handling of race and unconscious bias, a topic that first made headlines during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. In that conversation, Meghan revealed that there had been “concerns and conversations about how dark [Archie’s] skin might be when he’s born.” When pressed for details, she refused to identify who made the remark, saying it would be “too damaging.” Prince Harry added, “That conversation I’m never going to share. It was awkward. I was a bit shocked.”
Oprah later clarified that Harry had assured her neither Queen Elizabeth II nor Prince Philip had been involved. During his 2023 memoir tour for Spare, Harry further distanced himself from the accusation of racism, explaining to ITV’s Tom Bradby that he would describe the incident as stemming from “unconscious bias” rather than outright racism. “The difference between racism and unconscious bias — the two things are different,” he said, suggesting a desire for nuance rather than condemnation.
Still, Endgame’s reemergence of the subject has proven difficult for the royal household, reigniting the rift between the Sussexes and the family just as King Charles has sought to project unity. Yet his demeanor in Dubai conveyed a sense of steady resolve — a monarch determined to stay focused on duty, even as the institution he leads continues to weather storms of public opinion.
His trip to COP28 also carried a symbolic undertone: a reaffirmation of continuity amid uncertainty. While royal watchers dissected the scandal back home, Charles continued the work that has long defined him — championing sustainable industry, biodiversity, and global cooperation. His presence in Dubai stood as a reminder that leadership, especially within the monarchy, often demands persistence in the face of distraction.
As he greeted students and dignitaries, smiling beneath the desert sun, the King’s humor — light, self-effacing, unmistakably human — cut through the noise. “Recovering from the shock” of turning 75 may have been a joke, but it also hinted at something deeper: the acknowledgment of time, endurance, and legacy. For Charles, now firmly settled on the throne but navigating the most complex media environment any monarch has faced, his words in Dubai offered a quiet signal that the crown endures — not through perfection, but through perseverance.
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