In the latest royal exposé, author Omid Scobie delves into the depths of Kensington Palace’s alleged efforts to suppress rumors of Prince William’s infidelity. In his book "Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival," Scobie claims that the palace went to great lengths to quell speculation about Prince William's purported affair with Rose Hanbury, a close family friend, during Kate Middleton's pregnancy with Prince Louis.
The book details how the palace's then-press secretary, Christian Jones, reportedly engaged in an urgent campaign to dissuade The Sun newspaper from pursuing the story. According to Scobie’s sources, Jones felt intense pressure to silence the rumors, even offering other royal stories to the tabloid as a trade-off for dropping the affair allegations. Scobie notes that this strategy seemingly worked, as The Sun subsequently shifted its focus to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, unleashing a series of revealing articles about the couple.
Despite the palace’s silence on the matter, legal action was threatened in April 2019. Harbottle and Lewis, a law firm representing the royal family, issued a letter to a publication, citing the allegations as "false and highly damaging" and a breach of privacy under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The royal family, including Prince William and Kate Middleton, have consistently refrained from addressing the cheating rumors publicly. Even Hanbury, who attended King Charles III's coronation, appeared unaffected by the claims, potentially dispelling any notion of a rift caused by the rumors.
Scobie, in his interaction with Entertainment Tonight, expressed caution in how he approached these allegations in his book. He emphasized that there seems to be no concrete evidence supporting the rumors, considering them more as hearsay. Yet, he acknowledged the enduring nature of such rumors, especially given the lack of direct response from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
This episode, as narrated by Scobie, reflects the complex interplay between the British royal family, the press, and public perception. It highlights the lengths to which the palace might go to protect its image and the challenges faced in navigating the intricate landscape of royal rumors and public scrutiny.