King Charles and Catherine in show of unity amid Endgame racism furore

The Princess of Wales dazzled in a pink sequin gown in her first joint appearance with King Charles since the release of the bombshell royal book Endgame.

King Charles and Catherine, the Princess of Wales have made their first joint appearance since the release of the bombshell royal book Endgame, in which they were named in the Dutch translation as the senior royals accused of racism.

The duo put on a united front as they posed for a group shot with Queen Camilla and Prince William for the glittering annual pre-Christmas Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace.

Catherine sparkled in a pink sequin gown by eminent British designer Jenny Packham and paired the luxurious outfit with the Lover’s Knot Tiara once owned by Princess Diana and Her Late Majesty’s Greville diamond chandelier earrings.

King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales stand united at Buckingham Palace. Picture: AFP

The event Catherine and William mingled with guests at the annual pre-Christmas event. Picture: AFP

The princess, 41, wore the same outfit and jewels in June to Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan’s royal wedding banquet.

Controversial British commentator Piers Morgan revealed Charles and Catherine were named in 5000 copies of Omid Scobie’s book printed in the Netherlands as the senior royals that allegedly discussed the skin colour of Prince Archie before he was born.

Buckingham Palace has not commented publicly but aides have made clear that the King and his senior advisors are “considering all options” over the claims, including the possibility of legal action.

Catherine wore a showstopping Jenny Packham gold ‘Georgia’ gown to the event. Picture: Getty Images

The princess has worn the shiny outfit before. Picture: Getty Images

It comes as Meghan Markle was spotted wearing a bracelet gifted to her by Charles, marking her first public appearance since Endgame’s release.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, stepped out in Santa Barbara wearing black leggings and a black top, paired with Princess Diana’s watch, a Bentley & Skinner diamond tennis bracelet — and a gift from the King worth at least £4,900 ($A9420). Commentators have taken it as a sign Meghan is extending an olive branch to Charles.

The bracelet, which was first worn on the eve of her wedding to Prince Harry and then worn during a hike in May this year, features a ninety-two round brilliant-cut diamonds.

Harry and Meghan, who quit the firm in 2020, have stayed silent since the shocking claims made in the book came to light last week.

Omid Scobie’s book Endgame. Picture: AFP

Meghan Markle was spotted in public for the first time since the book’s release. Picture: AFP

‘RIGHT TO SAFETY AND SECURITY’: HARRY IN LEGAL SHOWDOWN

Lawyers for Prince Harry began a legal challenge over his security arrangements in the UK after he quit frontline royal duties and moved to North America.

As the House of Sussex remained silent on the royal race row raging around them following the release of Omid Scobie’s Endgame, Prince Harry began his case against the UK for his loss of taxpayer-funded protection.

It is the latest in a string of court proceedings initiated by the Duke, who did not appear in court for the start of the case.

Harry is taking legal action against the UK interior ministry over a February 2020 decision by a committee that deals with the security of members of the royal family.

The Duke of Sussex had been told he would no longer be given the “same degree” of personal protective security that he previously enjoyed.

Prince Harry leaves from the Royal Courts of Justice, Britain's High Court, in March. His legal challenge began this week. Picture: AFP

Shaheed Fatima, lawyer for Prince Harry, told the High Court in London the case was about the prince’s right to “safety and security”.

She added in written submissions that the impact of any harm to Harry on the UK’s reputation should have been considered when the committee took the decision to downgrade his protective security when visiting the UK from his new home in California.

She said this was especially important given his “status, background and profile within the royal family — which he was born into”.

In response, lawyer James Eadie, for the Home Office, said Harry was treated in a lawful “bespoke manner” when it came to his security on visits home.

The committee does consider “the risk of a successful attack on that individual” when considering protection.

“As a result of the fact that he would no longer be a working member of the royal family, and would be living abroad for the majority of the time, his position had materially changed,” he argued.

“In those circumstances, protective security would not be provided on the same basis as before.”

Harry’s mother Princess Diana, who was stripped of the title “Her Royal Highness” after she and Charles were divorced, died in a high-speed car crash in Paris in 1997 while trying to shake off paparazzi photographers.

In May, Harry lost his bid for a legal review of a government decision refusing him permission to pay for specialist UK police protection himself.

Lawyers for the interior ministry argued that it was “not appropriate” for wealthy people to “buy” protective security when it had decided that it was not in the public interest for such protection to be paid for by the taxpayer.

London’s Metropolitan Police also opposed Harry’s offer on the grounds that it would be wrong to “place officers in harm’s way upon payment of a fee by a private individual”.

Originally published as King Charles and Catherine in show of unity amid Endgame racism furore